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Canyon Ferry paving nears finish; lighting equipment delayed, reopening targeted for early September
Summary
Contractor and project manager reported paving is nearly complete but equipment delays for PAPI and beacon systems mean the airport will reopen with temporary markings; final striping and seeding are scheduled later in the fall.
Lance Bowser, project representative for Robert Pesha and Associates, told the Broadwater County Airport Board that paving at Canyon Ferry Airport is nearly finished but slightly behind schedule and that some lighting equipment remains delayed.
Bowser said crews are running roughly two to two-and-a-half weeks behind the earliest projection and that contractors are “essentially paving their way out” to avoid trucks driving on fresh mat. He said the runway surface and aprons are mostly done and that taxi-lane finishing could take a day or two following apron completion.
The board was told the airport may be able to reopen in the week following the contractor's current timeline; Bowser said reopening "should be like the ninth September," but he added, "Don't quote me on that date." He warned several items will remain outstanding after reopening: automated lighting such as the PAPI (precision approach path indicator) and the airport beacon are delayed by equipment lead times, and final paint and seeding will follow later in the season.
Bowser explained the project will open with temporary runway striping, including temporary centerline and runway numbers, and that full taxiway and final paint work will occur after the asphalt has cured: "the final paint we don't do until 30 days after asphalt completion." He also said seeding will be delayed until after Oct. 15 to avoid premature germination and winter kill.
Board members and staff discussed one pending change order involving the sprinkler system around electrical work; an estimate discussed at the meeting put the cost roughly in the $11,000'$12,000 range to replace piping and associated work. The board asked for a full breakdown of the contractor's change-order pricing (labor, materials, hours) before approving any change orders.
Bowser and board members praised the quality of the mat and said the contractor used a polymer-modified asphalt mix carried over from a previous FAA mix design. Bowser said the polymer mix provides "a little bit of flexibility" that can reduce cracking compared with older mixes.
Dwight Thompson, who identified himself as airport manager during the meeting, confirmed the PAPI timing question and noted that some PAPI units are constant-current devices requiring specific power arrangements if moved to other runway ends. Thompson also described options for salvaging the existing PAPI if the board chooses to relocate or reinstall it.
Board members said they will continue to coordinate reopening timing and will provide notice to airport users when closures for final striping or other short closures are needed.
