Runway remains closed due to delays in details

Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail-- The new terminal at the Nevada Municipal Airport sits on the ground in pieces awaiting the start of construction. Workers hope to complete the building by Feb. 8.

The airport runway could be opened as soon as next week -- then again, maybe not.

Although the runway itself is complete, there still needs to be some work done on the turn-around at the south end to resolve a drainage issue.

"It is really too flat and water pools on it," said Randy Marti, Nevada's administrative services director, said Thursday afternoon that the Missouri Department of Transportation would not approve opening the runway as long as water stands on the turn-around.

"They do not like to have airplanes on ice," he said.

Marti said that what will probably be done is that Blevins Asphalt, who installed the asphalt turn-around, will cut grooves in the paving so the water can drain off and then when the weather warms up make a permanent repair.

Exactly when that work will be done remains uncertain.

During Monday's airport board meeting, Marti also said that the contract with Emery Sapp & Sons called for the runway project to be completely finished on Dec. 21 and there has been a $1,500 penalty assessed for each additional day the airport has been closed.

"It's probably costing us more than $1,500 for each day its closed," Monte Curtis, airport board chairman, said.

"It's getting a little ridiculous keeping it closed when the runway is basically finished," Scott Buerge, said during Monday's meeting.

Jody Bryson, airport manager, told the board that the new beacon stand would be delayed at least 30 days because the company making it is also furnishing the steel to replace the bridge that collapsed last fall in Minnesota.

"There is a question of whether the airport can be open at night until the new beacon is installed," Bryson.

Mark Mitchell told the board that the new terminal building was delivered on Dec. 4.

"Sproul's Construction worked for a day and a half and found top soil and no clay," he said.

Mitchell said that it appears that at some time in the past the location for the terminal building has had fill added and the contractor has to dig about four feet to reach clay.

He told the board that Sproul's told them it might cost $20,000 to dig out the top soil and replace it with clay, but the architect for the terminal has suggested they might be able to modify the load-bearing pillars.

"You'll probably need to have special meeting to talk about the construction of the terminal. We will need to find out if the construction completion date is extendable due to unforeseen circumstances," Mitchell said.

The contract for the terminal construction calls for it to be completed no later than Feb. 8 and allows for a $200 per day penalty to be assessed.