Runway project on track

When will the runway be completed?
As the trees begin to turn and summer gives way to fall, this is a question that is being asked more and more. The short answer is that the project is on schedule and under budget.     For those who don’t know, this was a very busy summer at the Northern Maine Regional Airport. This is the year that the main runway is being reconstructed and the safety areas are being brought up to Federal Aviation Administration specifications. The main runway and a portion of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) have been shut down since May to allow for the completion of the project.
The project was originally scheduled to be completed on September 21st. By finishing before October, it is hoped that the main runway and the ILS will be fully operational prior to the onset of unsettled weather that comes with the changing seasons. As we close in on that date it looks like the project will be completed right on schedule.
For most of the summer it was felt that the project would be completed anywhere from two to three weeks early. One of the major contributors preventing the project from being completed early was the work required to compact the crushed granite and bring it up to final grade. The runway has a total of six inches of new crushed granite as base material. A total of 18,000 cubic yards of crushed granite were hauled in. While the crushed granite makes for a very strong base for the runway, it is very hard to work with. The general contractor has completely worn out two grader blades in getting the slope and the height of the runway within design specifications.
There is still plenty to do before the runway will be open to aircraft. The paving contractor has about another week of work. Once the paving is all in place, the remainder of the topsoil will need to be put down. The new lights and signs will then be installed and tested. Next the lines on the runway will need to be painted. Every line will need to be painted twice. This amounts to 160,000 square feet of painted striping. The painting operation will actually be viewed by FAA consultants who are developing a best practice painting document. They are using this project as an example of best practices.
The project is under budget. The project was budget to be constructed for $4,271,000. At last estimate the final price will be $40,000 under budget.
All those involved can feel proud about a job well done. It is a quality job and a great addition to not only the airport but to the city of Presque Isle and the Northern Maine Region. The importance of the runway is best summed up in a quote by Norm Crabtree, former Aviation Director of Ohio, “The airport runway is the most important main street in any town.” Given Norm’s chosen profession he might have been a little bias, still no one can argue that the airport doesn’t play some role in all our lives. It might be that UPS or FEDEX package you received last week. It could be the family member that lives away who is flying back home for a visit. All of us benefit from improvements at the Airport.
    Scott Wardwell is Airport Director for the city of Presque Isle. He can be reached at 764-2550 or by e-mail at flypqi@maine.rr.com.