November 29 — Late yesterday, results from the sampling and testing of base material (the rock under the runway asphalt) indicated areas that do not fully meet specific contract material specifications. Additional sampling is occurring this morning. Results from these tests will not be available until Friday morning, due to the testing procedures and standards that cannot be accelerated. The initial sampling, testing and certification at the rock quarry indicated that all material should meet specification. Asphalt placement cannot begin until verification testing indicates that the base material meets specifications. At this point, asphalt work cannot begin until Monday, December 4, at the earliest.
November 28 — There are still soft spots in the runway base material due to the water content from last weekend’s rain, so the contractor will need to wait until this Thursday to begin the runway paving. The paving process will occur on Thursday, Friday and next Monday. The contractor estimates that 1900 tons of asphalt will be placed per day (approximately 76 truckloads). Shoulder work along the runway will happen this Saturday, December 2.
November 27 — Material testing is occurring today (Monday, November 27) to ensure that the base rock material meets specifications before placing the asphalt. Final smoothness and runway elevations are also being checked. Runway paving was scheduled to begin today but, due to saturation from the recent rains, the process has been delayed until Wednesday, November 29. Paving work is expected to take three consecutive days, lasting through Friday. This weather delay moves the estimated reopening date to December 14.
November 20 — The County has been supplied with a projected schedule from the project’s contractor, Team Ghilotti. The runway rehabilitation project is moving forward with today being the last day for the contractor to bring in base rock for the runway’s base layer. Compacting and grading this base layer will take the contractor up to the Thanksgiving Holiday. The next step is the paving which is to begin on Monday, November 27, lasting approximately three days, weather permitting. Following this will be grading the shoulders of the runway, electrical work on the runway lights and then painting the runway markings. This work is anticipated be conducted during the week of December 4 through 8 and, barring any rain delays, a potential reopening is expected on December 11.
November 17 — This week’s rain caused about a day’s delay on the runway project. However, the contractor is planning to work on Saturday, November 18. There is about one more day worth of base rock to import from the rock quarry and compact into a solid 5 inch thick base on which to place asphalt. A lot of the stockpiled material has also been used in the runway shoulder area and covered with imported material so that none of the runway surface areas have any of the naturally occurring asbestos material present. An asphalt test strip was made at the asphalt batch plant this week and asphalt work on the runway could begin as soon as November 27, weather permitting. Due to Thanksgiving, there will be no work on November 23 and 24.
For the additional information on construction and safety monitoring for the Gnoss Field Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 15 — For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Gnoss Field Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 14 — Team Ghilotti is importing base rock for the runway. This is scheduled to occur over three days, following by fine grading and leveling prior to asphalt work, weather permitting.
November 13 — Last Thursday, November 9, Team Ghilotti provided a schedule that indicates runway paving occurring on November 27 through 29, weather permitting, followed by work on the shoulders for the rest of the week. Striping would presumably occur the following week. For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 9 — For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 8 — For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 6 — For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.
November 1 — For the most recent update on construction and safety monitoring for the Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project, please view this PDF.