Apr. 6—Claremore Regional Airport's apron is getting rehabilitated for the first time since 1993.
City council awarded the $1,265,463 apron rehabilitation project to APAC Central Inc. during the regular city council meeting Monday.
Airport Manager Eric Winn said they've completed crack, fill and reseal projects to prolong the life of the surface in the past, but this will be the first rehabilitation project.
This project is a federal project, so the Federal Aviation Administration will pay 90% of the costs — $1.233 million. The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission will pay five percent — $68,505 — and the City of Claremore will pay the other five percent — $68,507.
"We feel this is a good value for this city and the Claremore Regional Airport and is keen in order to ensure we continue growing out there," Claremore Industrial and Economic Development Authority Executive Director Meggie Froman-Knight said.
The project includes replacing 23,900 square yards of two to three inch asphalt, 102 aircraft tie-down anchors, drainage pipe and more.
Winn said they will be installing water drainage to mitigate water damage created by the water table pushing against the apron surface.
"Hopefully the drainages will mitigate that and prolong the surface even longer and we don't have to do this for another 20 years," he said.
Winn said the purpose of the project as a whole is to preserve the surface and protect tenants from potential damage to their aircraft.
"This will save people a lot of money in the long run from potential damage that could potentially happen to their aircraft," he said.
The project will be broken down into four phases.
"This is to mitigate the impact as much as possible," he said.
Phase one will take up the bulk of the project and includes blocking off one taxi-way.
"People will still have access while the bulk of the project is completed," he said.
Phase two is another seven days where the apron will be rehabilitated in front of the fuel pumps.
"We'll have our mobile re-fuelers parked out there on the concrete pad," he said. "We'll still be able to service people."
Phase three includes blocking off three hangers on the north and south end.
Phase four includes paint.
The project is expected to take 8-12 months depending on how long it will take to get the concrete, Froman-Knight said.
"While we love all the road construction that's happening with Highway 20, that [created] significant concrete challenges for us," she said.
Winn said construction on the project is tentatively scheduled to start at the end of August.
Froman-Knight said APAC was the only bidder for the project.
The city also approved a $99,651 contract for Garver to oversee the apron rehabilitation project.
"This is for them to oversee, one, the bidding process that they've already executed as well as the construction project representation, reporting back to the FFA and ultimately the testing and project closeout," she said.
Garver has been the engineer over the Claremore Regional Airport for four years, Froman-Knight said.
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