Construction at Powell River Airport to rehabilitate the runway is on schedule, City of Powell River councillors were told recently.
At the April 30 committee of the whole meeting, city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig provided an update, indicating construction began on April 8, with the closure of the runway. He said Upland Contracting started with pulverizing of existing asphalt. He said the milling machine reduced pieces to no larger than 38 millimetres so there could be proper compaction.
“They’ve made good progress on the pulverizing and as of today, the milling has been completed, and they are moving on with the next aspects of the job,” said Birtig.
He said there were large Xs on the runway to indicate it is closed to ensure nobody inadvertently tries to land at the airport.
Birtig also outlined electrical work being undertaken at the airport, with conduit being laid in an adjoining trench. He said the underground electrical work is nearing completion, with the receptacles that have to be placed being taken care of in the next few weeks.
Birtig said once the runway has been pulverized and compacted, the contractor begins bringing in crushed aggregate. Upland Contracting had six excavators, four rock trucks, four rollers and at one time, two pulverizers onsite, but one of them broke down. However, the company was able to carry on and not impact the project, according to Birtig.
“They also have bulldozers, loaders and backhoes,” said Birtig. “Our local contractors are also providing equipment.”
Birtig said once the milling and compaction was complete, some sink holes were encountered.
“Initially, we were very alarmed, and we weren’t sure if it was an indication of some subsurface structure that was going to take up a lot of labour and materials to complete,” added Birtig. “What we found was that there was an old wooden culvert that had disintegrated. We had the bridging of the asphalt that didn’t make it apparent, but once we did the compacting and the pulverizing, it became apparent. We dug that material out and put in structural fill and they were able to carry on.”
Birtig said some grading of the runway is taking place in anticipation of commencing paving, which is scheduled to start May 7. He said the paving is scheduled for 20 working days.
“Currently, we’re totally on schedule, anticipating completion at the beginning of June,” said Birtig, adding that the runway is expected to be open by June 15.
Birtig said with respect to paving, the contractor will not run into impact from temperatures because they can pave when it is above five degrees. The big issue would be a large accumulation of rain, which could slow the paving.
Councillor Cindy Elliott asked about the grade change at the airport, and whether it had been taken into consideration. Birtig said it is part of the design and it will be less than a 1.5 per cent gradient, which has previously restricted some commercial aircraft from landing at the airport.
Elliott then asked if Pacific Coastal Airlines, which has been shut down from operating into Powell River since the runway closure, has been apprised of developments. Birtig said there are weekly meetings, so they receive regular briefings.
Mayor Ron Woznow said he has received a number of phone calls from people enquiring about the convoy of gravel trucks on the way to the airport. He asked if that was finished. Birtig said the movement of those trucks is essentially over. The next phase will involve asphalt trucks but not to the extent of the placement of the crush.
Birtig said Upland Contracting had received an agreement from its unionized staff to work seven days a week to stay ahead of the schedule.
In a followup email on May 3, Birtig told the Peak he inadvertently stated during the April 30 meeting that even with weather delays the work would definitely be done by the contractual substantial completion date of June 15.
“What I should have stated is that in the event of weather delays the work will be done and the runway opened up by June 9,” he stated.
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