Construction continues to surpass last year’s numbers as the building season nears the winter slowdown.

There was nothing slow about this year’s statistics. From Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, permit values issued by the City amounted to $147.4 million — $10 million more than the same period a year ago.

In 2011, the total value of permits issued by the City was $162.5 million. That was down from 2010, when construction hit $191.5 million.

It was better than had been predicted at the start of the year.

So far in 2012, residential construction has lagged compared to last year — $62 million to date compared with $79 million in the first nine months of 2011.

But commercial projects have taken off, hitting almost $77 million in contrast with $50 million last year at this time.

City development and engineering services director Marvin Kwiatkowski said Thursday the numbers are encouraging.

“I think we’re looking positive,” he said, adding if the trend follows through to the end of the year, the total construction value for 2012 should end up around $180 million.

While September saw commercial construction reach $3.7 million — $1.4 million more than last year — it wasn’t due to any one big project. In fact, Kwiatkowski said, there were 15 projects adding to the figures.

“We have a strong year in the commercial sector, and residential slightly down, but I think things will pick up for next year.”