Taxiway reconstruction at Friday Harbor Airport is nearly complete. The work is expected to be finished near the end of September. The north half of the taxiway opened recently, and work is underway removing old asphalt and rebuilding and repaving the south section.

The project includes improvements to the storm water system, including restoration of the retention pond near the Mullis Street Fire Station. The Port is taking advantage of reconstruction to install energy-saving LED taxiway lights in a move to save money over the coming years.

Trimaxx Construction of Sedro Wooley is the prime contractor on the job, but many local contractors have been involved as well.  More than twenty local dump trucks hauled gravel from the barge landing near Jackson Beach to the plant where the asphalt is being mixed. Some of the rock and topsoil being placed on the airport came from local sources.

Port Director Marilyn O’Connor said, “It’s great to see our local businesses benefit from a big project like this.  The contractor has worked hard to use island companies wherever possible.”

The Port of Friday Harbor obtained a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for 90 percent of the $3.4 million cost of this project.  About $90,700 came from Washington State Department of Transportation, and about $250,000 from the Port.