Airport runway open for first home game
By Monique Headley
Stillwater News Press
9/3/2009

“On time and under budget” are coveted words in construction, especially
with regard to the Stillwater Regional Airport renovation project.

On Friday, the airport is slated to reopen ahead of schedule and with money
remaining.

Final figures are not yet tallied, said airport Director Gary Johnson, but
several material and job costs were reduced. Next week, he said, any
remaining and nonessential work will be completed.

Construction funds projected at $5.3 million were provided from a stimulus
grant of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, said Johnson.

“We are on time and under budget ... We just got the final details worked
out ... (Wednesday). We are right on target ... (to) open on Friday morning
and be open, of course, for the Saturday events,” he said.

The Saturday gridiron is set for Oklahoma State University Cowboys to
battle the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

In anticipation of the early opening, the airport already has plans to
accommodate 21 reservations from large corporate aircraft. Two Air Trans
and three Delta connections are slated to bring up to 500 passengers to
Stillwater. Corporate flights can each accommodate between five and 20
passengers, Johnson said.

“We expect there will be more fly-ins,” he said.

The effort required to complete the project was considerable, said Project
Manager Roger Key of TTK Construction Co. Inc.

“We worked 16 hours a day, seven days a week. It was touch and go sometimes
and a little yelling going on here and there,” he said. “It took a a lot
teamwork.”

“They are a bit ahead which is unusual for this type and scale project.
That speaks well of the airport, airport manager, construction company and
contractors,” said Terry Hunt, manager of the aviation program at the
Oklahoma State University Flight School. “We’re happy about it.”

Though up to 15 subcontractors were involved, weather was cited as an issue
of concern, Key said.

“The weather factored in quite a bit. We worked past that,” he said “And
got the passing tests on the concrete.”

Rain speeds the cure rate to set concrete, said Johnson, but it impedes how
fast workers can pour it.

At one point, a contract amendment was requested to extend the completion
time frame to 105 days from 100. Initially presented to the Stillwater
Regional Airport Authority, the amendment was withdrawn before the
presentation and vote to the Stillwater City Council.

Stimulus funds were well-used, Johnson said.

“This was a great project for ARRA funds,” he said. “We think it
accomplished what was intended — to get a project going, get people to work
... and get it completed. We are proud of that.”