A construction meeting was held at Wessington Springs City Hall last Wednesday, covering the project details and schedule for an upcoming project at the city’s regional airport.
Project engineers, contractors and South Dakota Department of Transportation representatives were in attendance remotely with Mike Schmit of Helms & Associates Civil Engineers & Land Surveyors leading the meeting in person. Also at city hall were Mayor Brian Bergeleen, Finance Officer Linda Willman, city councilman Ryan Knipfer and electrical/street superintendent Phil LaBore.
The project scope includes the reconstruction of the connector taxiway and hangar taxi lane plus an extension of the hanger taxi lane.
Schmit explained that the pavement in the taxiway and taxi lane are in need of reconstruction and the project will fix direct access from the apron, also providing adequate clearance for design group 2 aircraft with larger wingspan over 49 feet. An extension of the taxi lane is also included for future development of private hangers.
The total project cost is funded at 95% by federal and state sources with local share at 5%. The entire project cost is $1,445,000, with the city’s portion totaling $72,000.
“We’re getting ramped up and ready to fire this project off,” Schmit said. “Starting April 16 we’ll be moving equipment, shutting down the airport and doing construction safety phase in. The mill shows up the day after the airport closes.”
With the airport being closed during construction, the city is notifying users who have aircraft based out of Springs that they must temporarily relocate the aircraft or not fly during construction. Work is scheduled for completion the week of July 4. Final completion is set for the first part of August, after runway markings are applied following the 30 day asphalt oil curing time.
The topic of air ambulance access was raised during the meeting. Although the airport will be closed, Schmit said the runway would be usable in a life or death situation.
“There will be a period where the runway will be completely shut down though,” Schmit pointed out, adding that during the project, the airport runway, which is included in the state pavement maintenance program, will also be resurfaced and sealed. “But instead of having to shut the airport down twice, the resurfacing/sealing project will fall within the same timelines as the taxilane/ taxiway project.”