Colfax airport project advancing, 4 days ahead of schedule

Construction vehicles litter the site at the Colfax airport where crews are finishing excavation work and beginning asphalt work to lay the new runway. Construction is currently about four days ahead of schedule. Anticipated completion date is still Oct. 5.

Gazette Report

Reconstruction of the runway at the Port of Whitman County Business Air Center is moving along as expected, Port Properties and Development Manager Debbie Snell told port commissioners at their meeting Thursday, Aug. 20.

The crew from Motley & Motley, Inc., Pullman, have begun rock and fabric work and are nearing completion of excavation.

"Everything's kind of happening at once," Snell said. "They're putting down the rock and fabric on one end and finishing the excavation on the other. They are still working on the earth work. They should finish the excavation this week."

Scheduled to be completed by Oct. 5, the project is about four days ahead of schedule, Snell reported. Work began July 27.

FAA Project Manager Karen Miles was at the airport Thursday, Aug. 20 for an inspection and said things looked great.

"She thought everything was good," Snell said.

The airport is closed during the construction, and it will reopen once construction is complete. Illuminated X's at each end of the excavated runway indicate to pilots not to land at the airport.

The previous runway was approximately 3,500 feet in length and 55 to 57 feet wide, making it uneven in places. The new runway will still be 3,500 long, but it will be widened to 60 feet.

The runway will be constructed with improved drainage, improved asphalt, new electrical infrastructure, new lighting and new signs.

The Port of Whitman County received a $1.8 million FAA grant in June to fund the project.