Watford City Airport Update -- November 16, 2019

From Geoff Simon on Friday, November 15, 2019:

Plans were approved this week to begin construction work next spring on a longer, re-aligned runway at the Watford City Airport. But instead of attempting to finish the work in a single construction season, the work will be spread over two years to minimize downtime at the airport.

The Watford City Airport Authority approved design work for a 5,800 foot concrete runway, which carries an estimated price tag of $26.4 million. The city expects to bid the first phase of the project in February.

Construction of the new runway will eventually require the current 4,400 foot runway to be shut down, but airport officials decided to spread the work over two years to shorten the time the airport will be out of service. Next summer the city will complete grading and other dirt work that won't affect existing airport operations, and complete work on the concrete runway in 2021. The second phase of the project which will require shutting down all air traffic is expected to require about six months to complete.