FAA proposes $2.2 million Colfax runway

A Federal Aviation Administration engineer told Port of Whitman County commissioners that the runway at the port’s airport must be rebuilt.

“I want to congratulate the port on how beautiful the airport looks,” FAA engineer Karen Miles said last Thursday morning. Miles is based in Seattle and did a compliance inspection on the Colfax airport before the port commissioners’ meeting.

However, she said the condition of the runway is an issue the port must deal with soon.

She proposed a two-year project, with a total estimated cost of about $2.2 million. It would include design and engineering in 2014 and the construction in 2015. That would include a sub-base, base, asphalt, wiring and lighting. Miles said the sub-base would go down 15 to 18 inches.

“We can offer money for both engineering and construction,” she said.

FAA’s grant program for smaller airports pays 90 percent. The port would have to pay 10 percent.

She also told commissioners that the state Department of Transportation aviation department has a matching fund program for airport construction projects.

The project design and engineering phase would cost the port up to $20,000 and the construction phase will cost the port up to $200,000.

Lights on the runway’s edges are either missing or improperly located and markings are faded, Miles said.

“And I can’t say there’s structural integrity on the runway,” she said, as she held chunks of asphalt which she brought from the runway to the port meeting.

Miles said that in 2011, FAA took core samples from the 3,210-foot runway. They found a high water table with layers of clay and silt and no base.

“We can see cracking which is a sign that the structure is not good,” Miles said. “We don’t want to ignore this any more.”

Port Commissioner Tom Kammerzell asked Miles if there were any other choices.

“If this is not your choice, the alternative is to bandaid the runway, but the structural issues won’t be solved,” Miles said. “The FAA is on record in writing for this recommendation.”

Miles also told commissioners that the FAA is finalizing its budget and must be notified by the port by Oct. 15 if the port chooses to go ahead with the project. If the port applies for the matching funds, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the port will receive the money, Miles said.

Miles also said when the project is complete, she estimates the life of the rebuilt runway will be at least 20 years. She also said she believes this would be the last large project for the airport.

Debbie Snell, port development and properties manager, said that fill from the runway project could be utilized to fill low areas at the airport and bring them up to a standard where four to five more hangars could be constructed.

The two commissioners present Sept. 19, Kammerzell and Dan Boone, will wait for the third commissioner, John Love, to be present for a vote on the proposal Oct. 10.