More than $3 million in road work gets underway next month in unincorporated neighborhoods near Novato and across West Marin as the county continues its war on potholes.

County officials this week signed off on $2.4 million to repave six lane miles of Atherton Avenue near Novato, and parts of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road.

The Board of Supervisors awarded a $2.2 million contract to MCK Services of Concord and authorized a $220,000 contingency. The firm’s bid was about $3,500 lower than runner-up Ghilotti Construction of Santa Rosa.

The project includes drainage improvements, curb ramps, guardrails, pavement markings and related work.

Atherton Avenue on the east side of Novato is in line for paving between Highway 101 east to Novato Fire Station 62. “This is part of the county’s long-term plan to keep our roads safe and maintained,” noted Supervisor Judy Arnold. “I’m delighted Atherton is up for repair.”

Point Reyes-Petaluma Road between Novato and Petaluma will be paved from the Sonoma County border at San Antonio Road south toward Hicks Valley.

County officials expect the overall project to be completed by November.

In addition, the county will open bids next month on a project involving chip seal coating and related maintenance along 22 miles of 27 streets in unincorporated areas including Sleepy Hollow, San Geronimo Valley, Point Reyes Station and Inverness. County engineers estimate the job will cost $850,000.

Already underway is a $1.8 million road project in Tamalpais Valley that includes resurfacing, curb, ramp, guardrail and drainage work. Hillside areas of Homestead Valley and Almonte behind Tamalpais High School are in line for improvement.

Supervisor Steve Kinsey echoed Arnold’s commentary about the county’s focus on road maintenance.

“With the federal and state government in full funding retreat for aging roads and bridges, it has become a top board priority to step up our own investment,” he said in an email, noting safety for drivers and cyclists alike will improve. “While there is nowhere close to enough dollars to eliminate the backlog on over 400 miles of county-maintained roads, we have a sound approach for establishing which sections receive attention each year.”

Arnold said the county will spend about $17 million on road projects and maintenance this year, including about $8 million this summer alone to chip away at $81 million in deferred maintenance.

Among factors considered in deciding which roads to fix first are overall condition, public safety, traffic volume, grant funding, and projects planned by other agencies, according to Ernest Klock, county principal civil engineer. Attention must be shared with efforts to keep “good roads good” because routine maintenance extends pavement life and prevents expensive problems later, he said.

Since 2006, the county has resurfaced 423 lane miles or about half its unincorporated area roads. A regional pavement index rates county roads at about 60, or 10 points below a good rating, but about 10 points above a failing rating several years ago.

As measured by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Larkspur has the worst roads in the county and Belvedere the best. The county unincorporated area ranks with Mill Valley and San Anselmo as in an “at risk” category.