Heavy machinery is needed for the airport’s apron project.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
Those driving between Guthrie Center and Panora have likely noticed construction machinery at the Guthrie County Regional Airport. Matt Pearey, airport board chair, provided details on what’s happening at the airport.
“The current construction project is the re-paving of the airport apron,” Pearey said. “The timeline, weather permitting, is to have the project completed by the end of July.”
An airport’s apron (also known as the ramp or tarmac) is the area where aircraft can be parked, loaded and unloaded, and serviced.
The total cost of the project, including design and construction, is expected to be around $1.6 million. Pearey explained why the project was needed.
“It began as just fixing the existing ramp, as that concrete was getting to a point where it could be hazardous for smaller aircraft,” he said. “We are actually extending the ramp area further to the south to move the fuel pump station.”
The project is 90% grant-funded, with the airport receiving three federal grants through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).