Staff Writer
The city’s municipal airport will be a hub of activity this fall with the receipt of a federal grant that will fund the building of a new taxiway, according to announcements made earlier this week.
The city will receive an Airport Improvement Program grant of $227,973 from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud in a statement. The funds will be coupled from $6,000 from each state and local government to complete the project.
City Manager Steve Buck said Tuesday that the reconstruction project brings the airport into compliance with new standards.
The airport facility must meet the criteria for the design aircraft, which is a Beechcraft King Air 200, a twin turbo airplane, according to Buck, who also is the municipal airport manager.
The grant provides funding for the removal of the existing runway and construction of the new taxiway, which will also allow for direct access to the terminal area.
“It’s critical that we have appropriate taxiway … and that it can accommodate these aircraft coming in,” said Buck.
The project was part of last year’s plans to remove obstructions to the runway, Buck explained. While the apron, or tie-down, area was moved closer to the hangar, funding ran out for the remainder of the project, he said.
“I’m pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded this funding to Caribou,” said Michaud in a prepared statement. “Upgraded infrastructure at the Caribou Municipal Airport is essential for safety and bringing new economic opportunities to northern Maine.”
The City Council will consider a bid for the project from Soderberg Construction during its Aug. 11 meeting. A pre-construction meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 13, after which Buck said work could begin.
The project is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 15, according to the city manager.
A total of 15 private aircraft are based at the airport, in addition to two air ambulances.
