Money To Be Spent On Runway Improvements

The FAA has awarded an $8 million grant to Snohomish County, WA for runway rehabilitation at Paine Field, where Boeing manufactures its 747, 767, 777 and 787 lines.

Paine Field is considered a regional airport primarily serving business aviation. There are also several attractions for aerospace enthusiasts.

Seattle PI Blogs reports that the airport has now secured more than $19 million in federal dollars for refurbishment of the runway and taxiway system. $11 million of that was reportedly federal stimulus money.

The county says the project is a "top priority." It says Since June, the airport has been using ARRA funding to begin repairing the primary runway (16R/34L) and the south portion of parallel Taxiway Alpha. The additional $7.9 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will allow that work to continue on the north part of Taxiway Alpha.

County records also indicate runway 16R-34L, the main jet runway at Paine Field, is the only runway that supports the large aircraft manufactured by Boeing as well as aircraft refurbished at Aviation Technical Services (ATS). The runway was last paved in 1996 and is at the end of its design life. It is beginning to deteriorate and show stress from the operations of large aircraft.

The total cost of the project is more than $20 million and is expected to be completed with the receipt of additional FAA Airport Improvement Program grants during the next few years.

FMI: www.co.snohomish.wa.us