The second and final phase of reconstruction of Friedman Memorial Airport's single runway was completed on time despite cold, humid weather and some angry neighbors.
At a meeting of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority on Tuesday, Oct. 2, Airport Manager Rick Baird said the approximately $5 million reconstruction, funded through a federal grant, means safer landings and takeoffs, as horizontal grooves were cut into the pavement for the full length of the runway. The pavement grooving will provide appropriate drainage and traction on the new surface, constructed during the first phase, which took place from April 24 through May 23.
Baird said the grooving, which was performed at night while there were no flight operations, resulted in six "noise concerns" that he believed to be the fault of a loud high-pressure vacuum truck responsible for cleaning up the debris.
Baird read a letter from a Woodside resident that stated the cutting, which took place between 10:15 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Sept. 24 through 27, led to four sleepless nights and reinforced the belief that the airport should be moved due to its proximity to residential neighborhoods. Baird said that his staff did what they could to minimize the noise by moving the loudest equipment farther away from state Highway 75.
"Every time we have to ask for a waiver of an ordinance, we need to remember there's a reason we have the ordinance in the first place," said authority member Susan McBryant, who also is mayor of Hailey.
In addition to the grooving, the reconstruction included closing the airport on Oct. 1 and 2 to paint all required safety striping and other runway markings. As well, the adjoining runway safety areas were seeded with grass during that time.
The reconstruction project was deemed necessary in June 2006, when it was discovered that moisture in the runway base had led to severe deterioration.
In other airport news:
- Baird said he's still unsure when the airport might be able to use the installed but inoperative Transponder Landing System, as the board will have to once again wait for the Federal Aviation Administration to review a recently resubmitted application. The TLS is a precision navigation system that allows landings in lower cloud ceilings and reduced visibility.
- Baird announced that on Aug. 29, the FAA issued the first grant offer to the airport authority to be used for planning a replacement airport. The $2.24 million grant will include the first phase of an environmental impact statement.
