ELLSWORTH — The Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport manager on Tuesday was authorized to put out to bid the final contract for reconstruction of the main runway, which carries a price tag of $1.3 million.

Airport manager Bob Cossette told Hancock County Commissioners that Hancock County will be responsible for contributing $65,000 to the third and final phase of the project. He said those funds are available in the county’s capital reserve account. He said the state will contribute $65,000 in matching funds and the Federal Aviation Administration will cover the balance.

Cossette said Stillwater-based contractor H.E. Sargent is scheduled to wrap up the second phase of Runway 4-22’s reconstruction by June 24. That work will be inspected July 11. He said that phase is being completed six days ahead of schedule.

Cossette recommended that commissioners open bids for the final phase at their regular July 11 meeting. He said work on the runway will resume after Labor Day and is scheduled to end no later than Nov. 15.

“We cannot survive another winter with that runway shut down,” said Cossette, who added the November deadline would be stipulated in the bid specifications. “Our engineers feel confident it can be done.”

Runway 4-22 has not been repaved since it was constructed in the 1940s. Over the years, frost has taken its toll on the 5,200-foot strip, which has bumps, heaves and drainage problems.