Plans are underway to completely rebuild the Packwood Airport, starting with the runway.
The Lewis County Commission on Monday allowed staff to seek a $225,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Commission to fund designs for a new runway.
The $225,000 grant would include a $12,500 match from the Washington State Department of Transportation and $12,500 from the county, according to Community Development Director Lee Napier.
“At this time, the grant is just for design and environmental documentation with the ultimate goal of making improvements,” Napier said.
Larry Mason, manager of the Packwood and Toledo airports, said the grant application is the first step in a longer process to restore the Packwood Airport.
“It has deteriorated over the years. It’s going to be completely rebuilt with the FAA providing 90 percent of the funds and WSDOT providing 5 percent and the county will pay 5 percent,” Mason said.
Currently, the runway is 38 feet wide and 2,356 feet long. Mason said he plans for the runway to be 60 feet wide, the FAA minimum except for emergency airfields, and remain 2,356 feet long.
“It’s going to be a great help and a great safety factor,” Mason said.
The Packwood Airport started out as strictly an emergency airfield. It is the first airport pilots reach when they fly west from Yakima.
The county-owned airport has recently attempted to draw more private aircraft. However, the most popular users are the U.S. Forest Service during fire season, the U.S. Army for training sessions and emergency traffic such as lifeflights.
“I see Packwood becoming a resort-type area with more aircraft coming in,” Mason said.
To attract more private pilots, the Packwood Airport will need to offer fuel services and have more than one hangar, Mason said.
The lone hangar at the airport has room for two airplanes.
“We would attract more traffic if we had hangars,” Commissioner Lee Grose said.
Once the grant money is approved and designs are finished, Mason said, he anticipates construction starting on the runway by next summer. Bids would go out next spring.
The FAA originally planned to start construction in 2016, but Mason said the county is pushing to move the start date up due to the decaying condition of the runway.
No cost estimates have been discussed with the FAA for construction, according to the county, but the FAA is planning to fund 90 percent of the construction work.
Before any improvement starts, it has to be approved by the county, WSDOT, FAA and the airport advisory board.
“They are all putting money into this project,” Mason said. “Everyone has good input.”
