PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles commissioners unanimously approved an application to pursue grant funds from the state Department of Transportation that would help the resurfacing of a runway at Fairchild International Airport and design work for a new hangar.
The total cost for both projects is estimated at $8.1 million with 90 percent of the funding coming from the Federal Aviation Administration, which would provide $6.8 million. The port would match it with $535,000.
The port awarded Lakeside Industries the construction contract in April to resurface the 8/26 runway. The project will include the installation of new LED runway lights.
The project was approved with the understanding that the port would seek a $382,476 grant from DOT to partially fund the resurfacing with a total cost estimate of $7.8 million.
Construction is set to begin in July.
Grant applications for DOT opened on April 20 and will close on May 19.
The port is also requesting $14,250 from DOT to help begin the site prep design work for new hangar pads at Fairchild International Airport.
That would bring the total request for grant funds from DOT to $396,726.
“There’s is an industry shortage of hangars throughout Puget Sound,” Airport and Marina Manager Jon Picker said. “Our hangars are currently at 100 percent capacity.”
The requested amount is based on a $285,000 construction cost estimate. However, the port plans to hold off on submitting the application for the funding in order to get revised numbers that better reflect the cost of the project.
“We want to provide the best estimate possible to WSDOT before sending in the application,” Picker said.
John Nutter, the director of finance and administration for the port, said the port has no commitments for a new hangar at the airport at this time and that this request for site prep funding is just step one in looking at the possibility.
“This is just saying we would like to put a bookmark out there for this work,” Nutter said.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.
