Airport awards phase 2 contract for runway realignment project

The second phase of the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport Runway Realignment Project is set to begin this summer, following the award of the contract to M.A. DeAtley, the same group that completed the first phase.

The project actually resumed two weeks ago to wrap up last year's work that stalled due to weather.

“We started back up, and they're out there finishing 2016,” said Tony Bean, airport administrator.

“They'll be working on that (phase two) by the end of the summer.” Bean said the phase two work can begin as soon as federal funding comes through.

“The grant's on its way,” he said.

He anticipated the funding being here within a couple of weeks, meaning the finish of the 2016 work and the start of the 2017 work could take place concurrently.

“They'll have operating equipment on both ends of the airport,” said Bean.

The bid package included four bid schedules, including excavation, installation of primary and supplemental windcones, construction of the utility corridor and runway and taxiway crack sealing in schedule one.

The second schedule includes excavation and storm drain improvements, while the third schedule includes installation of an underdrain and P-154 subbase and P-209 crushed aggregate base course, as well as continued construction of the utility corridor and construction of a new electrical building.

Schedule four matches the second one with excavation and storm drain improvements.

“There's quite a bit of work to be done,” said Bean.

“They've got to move a million cubic yards of dirt. They'll do a box culvert and flatten out the rest of the east end.

There'll also be additional drainage work.

It's a significant amount of work.” Bean said he anticipates the 2017 work running into next year, with the conclusion of the phase being weather dependent.

“That's (the weather) been a struggle,” he said.

“They've had to hold off.” The project includes a redesign of the runway in its current location which is expected to extend it by 400 feet to “right size” it for the traffic it sees, Bean said.

The project is expected to extend into 2020, with a useable runway expected to be ready by the fall of 2018.

Bean also noted design work for the 2018 phase will be underway soon.