Friday, March 29, 2013

Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville (KVVS), Connellsville, Pennsylvania: Airport projects move forward

DUNBAR TWP. — The Fayette County Airport Authority has agreed to reverse an earlier decision regarding the installation of runway lighting at the airport.

At its recent meeting, authority Chairman Fred Davis said that after reviewing plans with representatives of Michael Baker Corp., the airport’s consulting firm, the authority will seek bids to install medium intensity LED runway edge lights, rather than incandescent lights, to reduce the authority’s financial responsibility for the project.

“We have to live within our means financially,” said Davis. “I concur with (Michael Baker); it is the best choice for the airport.”

Previously, the project entailed re-marking runway 14 for non-precision approach and installing new lenses on existing lights, in addition to installing new lighting on a runway identified as 5-23.

According to a report from the consulting firm, the changes were made to “focus on bringing runway 5-23 into compliance.”

Alternate bids will also be sought to determine costs of the incandescent lights.

The state Bureau of Aviation has agreed to fund the bulk of the project, with the authority having to contribute a small percentage of the cost.

In a unanimous vote, the board directed the firm to seek bids for the project.

The bureau is also funding another project to seal runway surface cracks to extend the life of the airport runways.

Michael Kolesar, bureau representative, said that the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport is one of three area airports to take part in the pilot paving project.

The program is geared to reduce costs for each airport by joining with other similar facilities seeking to have the same repairs completed.

“Instead of having three different processes for the engineering, design and construction management, this pilot project combines the three into one process,” Kolesar told the board. “The goal is to get more bang for our buck.”

Davis said that the aging runways are in need of repair and that the project would extend the life of the surfaces.

“I think it will be very helpful to the airport,” he said.

Bids are to be opened April 4.

In other action, Davis said that Michael Baker continues to prepare a master plan development for the airport. A draft submission of the inventory and aviation forecast chapters is planned for the end of April.


Source:  http://www.heraldstandard.com

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