Airport runway project takes a step forward

The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport can soon begin its environmental assessment for the runway realignment project, after Washington State Department of Transportation officials agreed Thursday to accept an alternate route for a future highway bypass.

WSDOT bought the right of way for the proposed State Route 276 in the 1970s with the hope of building a north highway bypass to connect U.S. Highway 195 with the Pullman-Moscow Highway. If the bypass were to be constructed, it would run through the realigned runway's protection zone, which would violate Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

By FAA requirements, the runway must be lengthened at least 400 feet, rotated about 10 degrees and shifted several hundred feet southwest.

WSDOT agreed Thursday during a meeting with airport and FAA officials that a south-side bypass would provide a suitable alternative. The proposed road, with a maximum of four lanes, would start at State Route 270, run past the runway protection zone and rejoin Airport Road. But that wouldn't be for several years, WSDOT officials said.

"This is not on our five-year plan ... I couldn't tell you when it's on our plan," said Glenn Wagemann, WSDOT program manager. "But if things picked up, this would be an improvement to the area."

To carry out the south side bypass, the FAA would purchase the right of way currently in the runway protection zone and WSDOT would purchase the additional right of way to enable expansion of the roadway. Cayla Morgan, an environmental assessment manager for FAA, noted that detailed cost appraisals will be necessary for the chosen alternative, as well as for the three others provided to WSDOT.

"I don't think any of us want to leave this is in such a vague state as we move into the runway project," Morgan said. "We need some grasp for appraisals ... if anything to rule out the ones we know would be too expensive."

Kevin Mulcaster, project manager for aviation services at engineering firm Mead & Hunt, said the project scope will include those assessments, as well as environmental, cultural and biological effects.

"Then we can modify the alternative based on ways to minimize impacts, and then we can spit out a cost estimate," Mulcaster said. "We'll (also) do appraisals and land valuation on the existing right of way owned by WSDOT and on the proposed right of way as a replacement."

The environmental assessment is expected to take between 18 and 24 months and will be carried out by Mead & Hunt. Airport Director Tony Bean estimated the environmental assessment alone to cost between $1 million and $2 million. The overall runway project is estimated to cost $60 million.

After the assessment is complete, the runway project design process will take up to a year, and then there's a three-year time period for construction.

"So it won't be until 2018 by the time this thing is completed," Mulcaster said.

Kelli Hadley can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by email to khadley@dnews.com.