Krieg Construction has been awarded a $1.56 million contract to pave about 14 miles of county roadway on Whidbey Island.

The Island County commissioners approved the contract by unanimous vote Monday during the board’s regularly scheduled meeting in Coupeville.

Don Krieg, vice president of the Oak Harbor general contracting firm, said they compete for the job through the county’s formal bidding process annually and he was especially glad to win it this year.

“Any job in this economy is a big deal,” he said. “But yes, it’s a job that keeps employees busy, which is what we’re after.”

Krieg Construction, which has been in business for more than 40 years, was the “lowest responsible bidder” with a $1.56 million bid. Lakeside Industries also competed for the job with an offer of $1.8 million.

An engineer’s estimate for the projects was $1.52 million.

According to Bill Oakes, director of Island County Public Works, there are about 582 miles of county roadway on Whidbey and Camano islands. This year, his department will spend about $3 million paving and oiling about 46 miles of them.

The commissioners also approved a $343,180 contract with Cemex Construction Materials Pacific for road paving on Camano Island. All oiling, also known as chip sealing, is performed by county road crews.

The money for all of the work is paid for out of the County Road Fund, a special pot of money filled with real estate and gas taxes. It can only be spent on roadwork and is totally separate from the general fund, which makes up most county department budgets.

Oakes said the work is weather dependent but hopes Krieg can start in late July and wrap up in September.