Yuma Airport awarded $2.1 million grant for taxiway projects

June 14--Yuma International Airport has been awarded a $2.1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for improvements to Taxiway Zulu, a project expected to begin in early July, airport officials confirmed Wednesday.

The northside taxiway is the main artery to the various locations on the airport and is heavily used by commercial airlines, corporate aircraft and the general aviation community.

Taxiway Zulu is one of four construction projects totaling about $10 million that will be undertaken at the airport over the next six to 12 months, said Craig Williams, airport director. In many cases, if not all, he expects local contractors to be awarded the work, providing jobs and a big economic boost to the Yuma economy.

"This is all good news," he said.

Other upcoming projects by the airport include modifying the secure passenger seating area of the terminal and undertaking construction of the Aviation Industrial Center. The private sector also is undertaking two projects: Million Air will be constructing a large hangar in the airport's Defense Contractor Complex, and a private investor intends to build a new hangar on the general aviation side of the airport.

BTZ, doing business as Zeller's, has been awarded the contract for Taxiway Zulu. Construction is scheduled to start July 9 and be completed by Dec. 6, with work to be done in three phases to minimize the disruption to aircraft traffic, Williams said.

The project will include rehabilitating the taxiway, widening it to 50 feet to accommodate larger aircraft and adding lighting. Total cost is $2.3 million, which includes a $200,000 local match as well as the FAA grant.

"We're going to replace the existing taxiway asphalt and shoulders, all of the taxiway lighting, signage and marking, and upgrade the associated electrical systems, including the pilot activated lighting system, for the safety of our pilots," said deputy airport director Gladys Wiggins.

A section of the taxiway will be reoriented slightly to the south so it no longer intersects the corner of the CareFlight Air Ambulance building, which has been a major concern, Wiggins said.

"This is a high-priority project for the airport," she said.

Meanwhile, the Yuma County Airport Authority is scheduled to open bids July 12 for the Aviation Industrial Center to be built in the Defense Contractor Complex. It will combine offices and two hangars that can be used by defense contractors for short- and long-term projects.

The Airport Authority was awarded a $3.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, and will finance the remainder of the approximately $4.5 million project.

The Airport Authority also will go out to bid shortly for a project to expand and modify the secure passenger seating area in the terminal to add restrooms. It received a grant of approximately $180,000 for the project from the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division.

Million Air, the airport's fixed base operator, intends to erect an 18,000-square-foot speculation hangar to be named for Amelia Earhart in the Defense Contractor Complex south of the new FedEx facility. The hangar is an existing steel building Million Air is moving from its Victorville, Calif., location.

Also, Bill Sims, who built the Big Adventure Hangar, is pursuing plans for another such private venture. It would be Building E, to be located next to the Hero Hangars.

"We love having him do that," Williams said. "It serves the aviation community, and there is no grant money for small hangars."

Joyce Lobeck can be reached at [email protected] or 539-6853. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YSJoyceLobeck or on Twitter at @YSJoyceLobeck.

Copyright 2012 - The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.