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Council approves airport seal coat and runway‑safety projects; staff warns of short closures
Summary
Lake Havasu City Council approved a $427,660 contract for runway seal coat and a $876,830 runway safety area improvement contract. Staff said the seal coat will likely require a 3–4 day runway closure plus a brief follow‑up; residents urged scheduling to reduce economic impact.
Lake Havasu City — The City Council voted unanimously on March 24 to award two aviation contracts intended to preserve the airport runway and improve aviation safety.
Council approved a $427,660 construction contract to American Road Maintenance to apply a seal coat and restripe the runway, which staff described as routine maintenance expected to extend the runway surface life by three to five years. Mr. Turner, a city staff member, said the contractor estimates three to four days to complete the runway portion of the seal coat and a brief additional day — possibly at night — when crews return about 30 days later to reinforce markings.
“...this will put a new seal coat on the runway, new striping, and keep us for another 3 to 5 years at a minimum for our main maintenance,” Mr. Turner said when introducing the project.
Because Lake Havasu operates a single runway, Mr. Turner said that portion of work will make the runway temporarily unavailable for fixed‑wing operations; staff said they expect to accommodate helicopter traffic in limited cases. The contract notice allows up to seven calendar days, although the contractor indicated confidence in completing runway work in three to four days.
Several residents and users urged minimizing daytime closures. Jim Harris, representing general aviation users, said closing the runway during busy periods reduces local aviation commerce and urged more piecemeal or nighttime work to limit disruption.
Council also approved a grant‑funded runway safety area improvement project to Perco Rock Company for $876,830.70. Mr. Turner said the Perco work — funded 90% by the Arizona Department of Transportation grant — involves infield excavation and grading to reduce foreign object debris and associated risks to aircraft. That project will be night‑work and carries a 30‑calendar‑day award window; staff expects closures only at night for the Perco work.
Both items were approved on motions and carried by 7–0 votes. Staff said they will circulate public notices of exact closure dates and attempt to align timing with lower traffic and favorable pavement temperatures.
The council did not change the contracts’ terms but accepted staff explanations about sequencing, temperature constraints, and cleanup procedures. Staff underscored that heavy equipment for the safety area project and seal‑coat scheduling will be coordinated to minimize dust and operational impact.
