Published: November 16, 2009 02:03 pm      

Airport projects near completion

Gainesville Municipal Airport is two weeks into it’s renovation project and Airport Manager David Vinton said the projects and renovations will bring in even more business for the airport, the citizens of Gainesville and the county.

The first project is to install a detention pond for storm water right along Highway 82.

Vinton said an 18-inch release pipe will aid in the flow of water collected when it flows into the ditches along Highway 82.

After the pond collects the water it will release it at a slower rate and a more managed flow.

The second project is to resurface the runway with a slurry seal, which is a liquid asphalt .

Vinton said the slurry seal helps to maintain the life of the asphalt and so is a very cost-effective project.

Right now the construction workers are filling in cracks in the runway to prepare it for the seal.

The stripes on the runway will then be re-painted.

The third project is to install all brand-new lights on the airport runway.

Vinton said the lights they are using now were installed in the early 1940’s and are very expensive to replace when they burn out.

Vinton said the project to change out the lights is necessary as the equipment is corroding and eroding. All conduits and wires will be replaced.

The fourth project is to strengthen the end of the airport runway.

The end of the runway refers to the extension section added about six years ago.

Vinton said the runway must be strengthened so the larger aircraft that are now using the airport won’t ruin the asphalt.

Vinton said the goal is to bring the end of the runway up to the strength of the original runway.

Vinton said the TxDOT Federal Aviation Administration grant is being used to complete the projects.

TxDOT and the federal government will pay for 90 percent of the project and the City of Gainesville will pay for the other 10 percent.

The grant is not part of the stimulus bill.

Vinton said the city received the money for their part of the projects by the sale of property at the airport this year.

The airport projects were estimated to cost $1.1 million, but the bid came in at $760,000.

Vinton said he hopes they will get some other projects done with the funds or get some money back. The money can only be used for the airport for capital improvement projects. It cannot go toward paying salaries or go into the general fund for the city.

Vinton said he is also hoping to extend and improve the utilities, water and sewer, for the hangars at the airport.

He said that will bring in more hangars and tenants and thus bring in more revenue for the airport and the city.

The projects, which started two weeks ago should be completed in another few weeks.