Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation is closing Methow Valley State Airport temporarily to replace and rehabilitate the airport’s 22-year-old pavement runway.
The airport, located in Winthrop, will close May 14 for 45 days. During the closure, phases one and two of the project will be completed.
Phase one will remove the existing runway and install an asphalt one. Sub-grade improvements will be made for the entire 5,049-foot runway, and a stormwater drainage system will be installed.
Phase two will remove a forest service nonstandard taxiway connector. Taxiway lighting modifications will be made, and the west side transient ramp taxiway connector will be modified to meet current Federal Aviation Administration design standards.
The runway will open with west side transient ramp access restrictions after phase two is completed, so as not to interfere with the U.S. Forest Service fire season.
A third phase will add sub-grade and pavement overlay upgrades.
The fourth phase, scheduled for spring or summer 2019, will expand the west general aviation aircraft parking apron to the south.
Methow Valley is the largest airport managed by WSDOT and serves commercial aircraft weighing up to 30,000 pounds.
Ten percent of the project is paid for by WSDOT Aviation with the rest covered by the Federal Aviation Administration.