A major project is underway at the Pocatello Regional Airport. The secondary runway, used as a crosswind runway under certain conditions, has been stripped down to the sub-base in preparation for re-building under a $4.6 million Runway Rehabilitation Project that started June 25, 2012. The scheduled completion date is October 1. All airport operations are being conducted on the primary runway and there is no disruption to service.

Gale Lim Construction, LLC of Blackfoot, Idaho, along with several other local subcontractors, is performing a complete rehabilitation of runway 17/35 to include removing existing paved runway and shoulders, significant grading to replace a shed section with a crown section, constructing new pavement with drainage improvements, replacing the primary wind cone and installing new supplemental wind cones, runway lighting and signs. In addition, the Omni-Directional Approach Lighting system for Runway 03 is being replaced with a newer Runway End Identifier Light system. T-O Engineers designed the project and is performing engineering services during construction.

The previous pavement on runway 17/35 had deteriorated to the point that replacement was the only viable option. Large cracks had formed that were allowing water into the base and sub-base, which would have eventually rendered the pavement unusable. Once the decision was made to perform the work, it was also determined that the new design needed a crown section.

“The original 8,600 foot long and 300 foot wide runway was constructed in 1942 with a pavement section that sloped straight across the runway from east to west. Nearly 50 years later in 1989, the center section of the runway received a 4” overlay reducing the runway to its current size to 7,150 feet long by 100 feet wide but maintaining the shed section. The FAA requires all runways to be crowned in the middle so water will drain quickly off from both sides,” said Airport Manager David Allen. He added, “The conversion to a crown section means enough earth to cover a football field 145 feet deep will have to be moved during the project.”

Funding for the project comes primarily from an Airport Improvement Program grant issued by the Federal Aviation Administration with the City of Pocatello covering a 6.25% match using Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) fees collected by airlines and property taxes.