Council approves engineering services for Newton airport pavement project

Fourteen years have passed since the Newton Municipal Airport received its last pavement rehabilitation, resulting in the city council last month approving a more than $177,000 engineering services agreement to extend the useful life of a portion of the runway, parallel taxiway and the apron.

Newton City Council approved the agreement with Urbandale-based engineering consultant Kirkham Michael & Associates, Inc. during its Feb. 19 meeting. The condition of the existing pavement continues to deteriorate over time, according to council documents. The last rehabilitation project occurred in 2010.

In addition to rehabbing the runway, taxiway and apron, the scope of work for the project will also consist of temporary and permanent pavement marketings. The duration of the project is 50 working days with a 30-day holding period prior to placing permanent markings, council documents stated.

City of Newton anticipates the project will be bid during the spring of 2024, with the final grant application submitted before May 1. Construction is anticipated to begin late this year. The project will be funded by supplemental funds awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, which covers at least 90 percent of the costs.

The city’s out-of-pocket expense will be $17,783.77 for the engineering services agreement, which will be paid from 2024 general fund bonds.

Kirkham Michael & Associates, Inc. will handle the design, bidding, construction and close-out services for the pavement rehabilitation project. Additional resolutions will be presented to council at later dates to approve the plans, set bid dates and approve subsequent FAA grant awards.

Council member Randy Ervin mentioned that because of the FAA covering the vast majority of the costs, it ends up being a major project for only $17,000.

“I just want to make sure that’s clear — that’s a good deal for the city,” he said.