$4.6 Million Airport Project Goes To Blackfoot Company

Pocatello’s City Council has voted to go forward on a $4.6 million airport project.

Sealant patches just aren’t cutting it anymore. Deep cracks crisscross the secondary runway at Pocatello’s airport, going right down to its base.

“The secondary runway has significant cracking that is already deteriorating the base and everything. So it needs to be completely rehabilitated from the ground up,? Pocatello Regional Airport Manager David Allen said.

The plan isn’t just to restore the runway to good condition, but to upgrade it so it can handle bigger planes and jets. Doing that will take a big construction project, but Allen wants to make it clear, this won’t cause any delays or problems for travelers.

“It’ll have no impact on operations whatsoever. The primary runway is still fine. It’s going to be running as normal,? Allen said.

That $4.6 million contract isn’t going to an out-of-state company.

Gale Lim Construction is based out of Blackfoot and got the winning bid.

“This is a federal grant, so it’s important that the money is used here. And it is also important that it stays local. So we’re very thrilled with that,? Allen said.

Allen said he’s not just glad the money will help create local jobs, he thinks a local company will end up doing a better job.

“This is also Gale Lim Construction’s back yard. So a project of this magnitude, they’re going to make sure it’s done right, so they can have their name on it. So that give us a comfortable feeling,? Allen said.

Federal grant money will pay for 93.75 percent of the project.