FAA $1.8 million for airport now reported to be official

A crop-duster plane rounds a turn for another pass over a field north of Colfax June 6.

A $1.8 Federal Aviation Administration grant has officially been awarded to the Port of Whitman County to rebuild the runway at the Colfax airport.

“It’s not just a rumor from Patty Murray’s office anymore,” Port Properties and Development Manager Debbie Snell told the Port Commissioners last Thursday. “It’s official.”

The $1.8 million grant will be used to rebuild the existing runway at the same length, about 3500 feet, and to widen it to 60 feet all around. The runway is currently about 55-57 feet wide and is not even all around, Snell said.

New drainage, lighting and signs will be installed.

“We’re just making it a nicer place,” said Snell. “It was really sad when we took it over.”

Since the Port took over at the airport, several improvements and reconstructions have been completed, including 11 new hangars, a full taxiway reconstruction in 2007 and apron expansion and tie down construction in 2012-13.

“(The runway) is the final huge project,” said Snell. “There will be smaller projects as we move forward.”

The project is slated to start July 27 and will continue through Oct. 1.

Traffic on Airport Road will not be affected during the construction phase. The airport will be closed during construction, though special emergency precautions will be in place in case of pilot emergency and the need for forced landing.