Airport to schedule crack sealing and runway striping; brief runway closures expected

Dave Neto, an engineer working with the airport project team, told the Rangeley Airport Commission that both AIP grant offers for this year’s pavement projects have been sent to the town and signed, clearing the way to begin work. “Once we get started, you know, it's, you know, 2 weeks maximum out there, on the facility,” Neto said, adding that crew time on the runway itself should be much shorter. The contractor is to provide a schedule and the airport will coordinate to issue NOTAMs before any closure.

The work described includes crack sealing and pavement marking (runway striping). Neto said the crack sealing on the runway might take “a day total,” and striping could take “2 to 3 days on the runway,” creating a likely total runway closure window of “probably 3 to 4 days of total closure, on the runway.” The airport staff will get contracts, bonds and insurance certificates in place before construction begins.

Why this matters: runway striping and crack sealing preserve pavement life and maintain visual cues pilots rely on; temporary closures affect flight operations and require public notice. Commission members pressed staff for cost and scheduling details so they can avoid important airport dates.

Project financing and procurement details were discussed. Participants said the construction cost estimate for the combined crack sealing and striping project was discussed at roughly $230,000 (participants supplied different memory-based figures during the meeting). The funding split for the AIP-funded project was stated as approximately 95% federal, 2.5% state and 2.5% local; staff said they received only one bid on the work and will reach out to the low bidder to firm the schedule.

On operational notification, Neto summarized the process: “The town, typically, the airport would issue the NOTAM.” Commissioners asked for several weeks’ advance notice when possible; Neto said staff will request a schedule from the contractor and coordinate NOTAM timing with the town.

The commission also discussed that striping tends to wear more quickly at smaller airports and typically is restriped at least every five years; larger airports strip annually. Commissioners asked staff to provide the exact bid amounts, final contract value and any dates that would conflict with special events before work begins.

No formal vote was taken at the meeting; staff reported next steps and committed to returning a contractor schedule and cost confirmation to the commission.