But Airport Tenants Raise Concerns About Quality Of
Repairs
Nearly three years after a US Air Force transport plane left
two-inch ruts in the soft pavement of runway 4-22 at Las Cruces
International Airport (LRU), it appears the runway may be close to
finally reopening... but that doesn't mean everyone is happy.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports a final inspection of the
newly-resurfaced runway is imminent. "We anticipate conducting a
final inspection of the runway within days," City Manager Terrence
Moore said last week. "If that inspection is favorable the runway
could be opened shortly after that."
As ANN reported, at least
three aircraft -- traveling in support of an August
2004 reelection campaign rally for President Bush -- landed on
the 7,500-foot runway, despite warnings from Las Cruces airport
personnel the runway surface couldn't support the weight of the
loaded planes. The Air Force maintains it had permission to land
there, although from what authority, exactly, wasn't made
clear.
City officials say it was a fully-loaded C-17 Globemaster III --
transporting vehicles and other equipment -- that made the deepest
impressions on the runway, made soft by the summer sun. Original
estimates put the cost of fixing the runway, the longest at LRU, at
over $2 million.
Last year, the USAF negotiated a $603,754 settlement with the
city for the damages, which were caused when the C-17
back-taxiied on the runway. The city then awarded a $1.25 million
contract to an Albuquerque contractor to make the repairs.
That contract called for the repairs to be completed within 90
days, but unusually wet weather in New Mexico stalled construction
efforts. Now, the runway is finally poised to reopen... but that
doesn't mean everyone is happy.
"I don't know what the specs (specifications) for the pavement
surface call for, but I visited the runway after a rain storm," Hal
Kading, manager of LRU fixed-base operator Southwest Aviation,
wrote in a recent email to city Public Works Director Michael
Johnson. "There were many puddles signifying an uneven surface.
More disturbing were many areas of low longitudinal joints with
standing water.
"I suggest a review of the specs and inspection with a long
straight edge to ensure the airport is getting what it's paying
for."
Airport Advisory Board member Leon Billstone says he's also
aware of the problems.
"This whole 4-22 thing has gotten to be a 'ho hum' situation
with those in power Š it makes one wonder just what is going
on," Billstone said. "We cannot have a runway fixed and open after
three years, but then we can open the runway for the CAP (Civil Air
Patrol) gliders and their tow planes. And then we close yet another
runway, 8-26, because we have workers within the safety area from
time to time.
"The general discontent with this whole mess is showing more
each day among the tenants and users, but it seems as when someone
mentions it, it just brings more conversation."
Moore told the Sun-News he's aware of the concerns, and that
city leaders have spoken with the contractor to ensure the problems
are fixed before the first (lightly-loaded, please) plane
touches down on 4-22.
"That exactly why this final inspection is necessary and
proper," Moore said. "We also need to ascertain that those concerns
raised by Mr. Kading and Mr. Billstone have been taken care of. If
they have been done adequately then the city can proceed with
opening the runway. If not, the repairs will have to continue until
there is a satisfactory outcome."