The Mercer Island City Council unanimously approved a bid award to Watson Asphalt Paving Company of Redmond for residential street repairs, including paving and resurfacing, also called overlays, in the amount of $1,177,606 for a project with a budgeted amount of $1,134,660.

The project includes work in four neighborhoods: Greenbrier Lane, 87th to 92nd Avenues and S.E. 42nd to S.E. 44th Streets, south of Mercer Island High School; Avalon Drive and Avalon Place, and Lakeview Highlands, in addition to a number of arterial street repairs.

“We have gone some two years without putting a penny into residential overlays,” said Council member Mike Cero.

Although Council member Dan Grausz spoke with trepidation about the city’s planned opening of the contract bids for Island Crest Way, he voted in favor of the motion.

“We’re sort of in an odd situation,” he said, adding that city officials can’t predict if the bids — which opened June 10, three days after the meeting — will come in high or low.

City Attorney Katie Knight assured the City Council that there is a section in the contract with Watson Asphalt and Paving to reduce the scope of work by removing scheduled repairs to Greenbrier Lane, which could then take place the following year if necessary.

In order to make up the difference between the bid and the budgeted amount, city officials will draw $15,321 from the arterial preservation program and $27,625 from the guardrail development program, according to the city.

Traffic calming devices, such as street markings, signage, rumble strips or speed humps, among others, may also be installed depending on traffic data.

Council member Mike Grady pressed for signage and painting for bike lanes along the area south of the high school.

Bike signage isn’t included in the street repairs, said City Engineer Patrick Yamashita, although he said he would look into the issue. Yamashita also added that the pedestrian and bicycle facilities plan will go before the City Council on June 21.

Construction is expected to begin in late June, with the exception of Avalon Drive and Avalon Place. Repairs made near the high school and Lakeview Highlands will wrap up by Sept. 1. The Avalon repairs will run from Labor Day through September.