Acme Concrete wins airport contract

Spokane airport officials have awarded an $8.1 million paving contract for a new 8,100-foot runway to Acme Concrete.

The Spokane-based paving company has done several previous concrete jobs at the airport, including the recently completed Taxiway G.

The new project is Taxiway C, which will be an east-west stretch of concrete at the southern half of the airport. It parallels the airport’s alternate runway.

Airport officials say the new taxiway is critical in helping future development of the airfield’s corporate and general aviation (small private plane) facilities.

Taxiway C also will improve commercial aircraft access to the airport’s alternate runway, said spokesman Todd Woodard.

Airport board members awarded the bid to Acme after reviewing two bids. The higher bidder, Concrete Placing Co., based in Boise, submitted a project cost about $1 million higher than Acme, according to Woodard.

The taxiway will be 75 feet wide and 17 inches thick to accommodate large commercial and cargo aircraft.

Paving is expected to start in April and conclude sometime in August. The airport will provide about 5 percent of the total project cost. The rest will be provided through federal Airport Improvement Project money. That fund is generated through 8 percent surcharges paid by all air passengers.

Board members this week also approved a $511,000 construction management contract to Spokane-based Taylor Engineering, Inc.

Taylor had already been chosen as the engineering design firm for the Taxiway C project. That earlier contract amount was $463,364, awarded in October 2003.