Airport opened Thursday night as planned, despite rain
By Gillian Slade on June 1, 2018.
Medicine Hat News The recent rain has had no negative impact on the airport’s re-opening Thursday night. At 10 p.m. the airport was expected to reopen with the first scheduled flight to arrive just after midnight. Thursday was a general day for tidying up and making sure everything was as it should be, said airport manager Jeff Huntus. “Relieved” rather than excited was how Huntus described his feeling late Thursday. On May 7 at 7 a.m. the airport runways were closed and construction work commenced to rehabilitate the main runway and taxiway pavement surfaces. Work took place 24/7 to achieve the target of re-open by June 1. The airport runway was built in 1964 and had not had a major resurfacing in more than 20 years. This project was budgeted to cost $12.9 million to be covered by a federal grant. Huntus said the local tender was for $11.9 million so the project was in fact under budget. The painting of lines on the main runway was one of the final touches to be completed this week and required significant survey work to meet Transport Canada’s requirements. In about 30 days a second coat will have to be applied. This will be done near the end of June, at night, so it will not impact any flights. 10-9
