Crater Lake Klamath Regional Airport to receive $5.7 million in federal grant money for taxiway improvements
/Grants will help improve taxiways at airports in Portland, Klamath Falls, and Eugene
Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and U.S. Congressmen Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden, today announced more than $16.2 million in grant funding for taxiway improvements at airports in Oregon - including $5.7 million for the Crater Lake Klamath Regional Airport.
“This is excellent news for people in and around Klamath Falls. Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport helps connect the Klamath community, boosts our local economy and tourism, and supports the Oregon National Guard operating out of Kingsley Field,” Walden said. “These resources will help make needed improvements to the airport for the people of Klamath County. I applaud the Trump Administration for prioritizing and supporting our rural communities, and I look forward to seeing this grant utilized on the ground in Klamath Falls.”
The grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation will help Portland International Airport, Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport, and Mahlon Sweet Field Airport with taxiway improvement projects, including reconstruction, rehabilitation and lighting.
Portland International Airport received a nearly $6 million grant; Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport received a more than $5.7 million grant; and Mahlon Sweet Field Airport in Eugene received a more than $4.5 million grant.
“Oregon’s airports connect our state to economic opportunity—not to mention wildfire fighting resources, health care, and more,” Merkley said. “This significant investment in airport taxiways will improve both safety and access for Oregon's airports, and I will continue to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight for these much-needed improvement grants for our airports.
Funding use at LMT
Satellite image of Crater Lake Klamath Falls Regional Airport. Google
According to Linda Tepper, Airport Business Manager for the Crater Lake Klamath Falls Regional Airport, the airport will use the funding grant to repair Taxiway G, the primary parallel taxiway to runway 14-32.
Taxiway G, will undergo a full length rehabilitation due to a majority of the taxiway having a Pavement Condition Rating (PCR) of "Very Poor".
The rehabilitation of Taxiway G will include a new asphalt surface, new pavement markings, replacement of 12' of asphalt millings shoulders, construction of under drains, replacement of edge lighting cable, edge lights, airfield guidance signs and relocation of Runway 32 secondary wind cone.
Rocky Mountain Construction was the low bidder for the project and was awarded a contract in the amount of $5,969,378 to perform the rehabilitation.
In addition to the FAA grant of $5.7 million, the Airport has also received $150,000 from a State of Oregon Critical Oregon Airport Relief (COAR) grant and $158,000 from a Military Construction Cooperative Agreement (MCCA) through the Oregon Air National Guard. The Taxiway G project is scheduled to begin July 1st and completed before the end of the year.
Additional Comments
“Improving airport infrastructure throughout our state is essential both to Oregonians’ safety and to our state’s links to the global economy,” Wyden said. “These new resources are key for southern Oregon as well as the metro areas of Eugene and Portland, and I am glad the teamwork between the delegation and local airport officials has succeeded so well.”
“An investment of this size in Oregon’s airports will keep passengers and airport workers safe, while maintaining a critical economic engine in the state,” said DeFazio, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “It’s imperative that we keep our airports and taxiways in good working order to maintain access to air service, which will lead to increased economic development for the entire state.”