Airport project higher than expected

CRESCO - At the April 4, 2022 City Council meeting, Josh Dank of Clapsaddle-Garber Associates (CGA) reported that two bids were received for the Runway Drainage Improvements Project: Skyline Construction at $102,700 and Mehmert Tiling at $99,245. The low bid was accepted.

Two alternatives were declined and only the base contract was awarded. This was a savings of over $10,000.

Before the rise in prices and difficulty in getting supplies, the cost was $65,400.

For future projects, Dank told council the runway is in poor condition.

CGA recommend the City do a concrete repair project for an estimated cost of $150,000 and then in a few years do a complete two-inch asphalt overlay for about $500,000. These projects are eligible for grants but would require 15-21% local match if they are awarded. 

Dank recommended making runway improvements soon to avoid the runway deteriorating too much and requiring a rehabilitation project costing $1.8 million. A new runway could cost $4 million. 

He explained on a scale of 0-100 the PSI (pounds per square inch) for the Cresco Airport is 45. Forty-one to 55 is considered major rehabilitation. “It won’t be too many years before it will become reconstruction, rather than rehabilitation,” Dank said.

He went on to say the PSI for some pavement in front of the older hangars is in the 20s.

To add to the cost, fixing the lighting could be upwards of $300,000, with a 15% match.

In comparison, Charles City had a new runway in 2004, and Vinton is looking at a $400,000 project for reconstruction.

Airport manager Clair Pecinovsky reported the runway was built in the late 1970s with seven inches of concrete. “About 10 years ago, Troy Scholbrock did some of the joints.”

There is still plenty of work to be done at the airport, but a plan of slow and steady is the direction the council is taking for the time being.