County approves change orders to widen and strengthen taxiway Bravo; grants cover most costs

The Routt County Board of County Commissioners approved change orders advancing widening and pavement strengthening work on taxiway Bravo at Yampa Valley Regional Airport, as part of the airport’s taxiway rehabilitation and aviation business park build‑out. Airport staff said the work complements the ongoing taxiway Alpha mill‑and‑overlay and will support future taxiway Foxtrot expansion.

Airport director Sunil (presenting) said grant funding secured for the Bravo work includes a $1,000,000 Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) grant and about $800,000 in Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) funds; the airport has also applied for a larger federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) award (approximately $3,000,000) that is pending an environmental assessment. The board approved a $76,033 change order to Mead & Hunt for engineering services and a $723,527.50 change order to Oldcastle (United Companies) for pavement construction; staff said Oldcastle honored prior pricing from last year and the project remains within the published budgeted authorization of $995,003.31.

Commissioners asked whether this work is standard progress on the previously discussed build‑out; staff said the changes are consistent with the project plan and that the only outstanding large funding item is the pending EDA award, for which the airport is completing an environmental assessment and responding to EDA questions. Commissioners also noted and staff confirmed that Oldcastle carried a prior bid and that the airport secured favorable pricing.

The board approved the two change orders and authorized the airport director to sign the corresponding amendments (amendment number confirmed during meeting). Staff said that once the additional EDA funding is finalized the airport will be able to advance taxiway Foxtrot construction further.