It’s been a long process, but it appears at least some of the new runway at the New Castle-Henry County Municipal Airport will be constructed this year.
The Henry County Board of Aviation Commissioners met Monday and heard from John Baer of Woolpert, the engineering firm enlisted to design and facilitate construction of a new runway at the local airport.
Baer reported that bids for the work expected to take place this year have been received and opened. He said he anticipates the Federal Aviation Administration will award Henry County $1.1 to $1.2 million this year. That would pay for completion of the grading and drainage work involved as well as some paving, he said.
Of the three firms that bid on the remaining grading and drainage work that needs done, Boyd & Company was the lowest at $758,945. The other bids were from Gradex ($952,800.75) and Poindexter ($980,000).
Two companies bid on additive work and Dave O’Mara Construction was the “most responsive and responsible” of the two. O’Mara’s bid for paving 3 taxi-way connectors was $342,418 compared to E&B Paving’s bid of $589,612.06.
O’Mara’s bid for paving the west half of the runway with asphalt was $621,420 compared to E&B’s bid of $733,863.05, and O’Mara’s bid for paving the east half of the runway in asphalt was $718,919 compared to E&B’s price of $832,834.
Bids were also sought for paving the west and east halves of the runway in concrete and only E&B Paving provided a quote: $1,476,664.85 and $1,501,723.77 respectively.
“I know we were trying to see where the bids came in with asphalt versus concrete. You’ve got your answer now, asphalt is much cheaper and to get this thing built, that’s probably your best option to go with,” Baer said.
Board member Corey Murphy made a motion to accept the low bids using asphalt pending a detailed review of the bid documents by Baer and his associates at Woolpert.
Local officials have been trying to secure the funding needed to build a new runway at the local airport for nearly 10 years. A new runway 75 feet wide by 5,000 feet long is the ultimate goal. Such a runway would allow for small jet-powered aircraft as well as large propeller-powered planes to use the local facility. Local officials say that would be good for economic development efforts.
Based on current traffic, the FAA scaled back the project. At present, it is being built at 75 by 4,200 feet, but Baer continues to lobby FAA officials for the additional 800 feet in length.
Baer said if all goes as planned the grading and drainage work will be complete by late this summer and at least some paving should be underway by this fall.
