Driggs airport reopens with shortened runway for repairs

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI)- Pilots flying in and out of Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport will have a shorter runway to work with for the next couple of months. A ruptured irrigation pipe underneath damaged a portion of the runway, causing potential structural weakness and concern that it would not support the aircraft.

The city discovered the damage on June 6th. Airport officials temporarily closed the airport to shorten the runway to 3,850 feet, avoiding the damaged section. The airport is now back open. Pilots who plan to take off or land at the airport must obtain prior permission from Airport Superintendent Billy Cyr at (607) 341-8041.

Repairs to the runway are expected to take 8-10 weeks. City Administrator Doug Self says the 12' irrigation pipe that ruptured will be abandoned after the city repairs the runway.