FAA grants port $3.8 million

MOSES LAKE - Plans to renovate an existing ramp at the Grant County International Airport move forward after port officials Monday accepted a Federal Aviation Administration grant to fund most of the reconstruction costs.

According to Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Patrick Jones, the $4.3 million project to rehabilitate a 60-year-old ramp will hopefully bring more business to the airport.

When construction on the ramp is complete, Jones said it will be able to accommodate planes up to one million pounds, such as a fully-loaded 747.

Under the grant, the port will be responsible for 10 percent of the construction costs, while the FAA will absorb 90 percent of the price tag. Jones said the port will end up paying about $432,000 and the aviation agency will take care of about $3.8 million.

The reconstruction of the ramp is phase two of the port's East Terminal Apron Reconstruction project.

Phase one of the project was completed just this past month, and improved more than six acres of an asphalt portion of the ramp that smaller aircraft will benefit from. Jones said phase two of the construction project will involve concrete work, so that larger planes will be able to taxi and park.

Jones said the ramp that will be renovated is right along the flight line, and since the ramp has been deteriorating for decades, larger planes have not been able to use it.

And if the airport wants to attract new business, Jones said it's important that renovations at the airport take place.

"This is a commitment to the airport's strategic and master plan," said Jones. "We want to attract larger aircraft who do training and test flights, and use other services."

Acme Concrete Paving, based in Spokane, was the lowest bidder on the project. Construction should begin at the airport in April of next year, and take about four months to complete, Jones said.