Washington to Seek Bids on Airport Hangar, Taxilanes in May

The city could begin advertising for bids early next month on a new T-hangar and taxilane paving work at the Washington Regional Airport.

City staff is currently making requested revisions on the pre-final contract documents from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Aviation Division.

Brian Boehmer, assistant city administrator, gave an update on the project to the city council at Monday night’s administration/operations committee meeting.

The new hangar and taxilane work is expected to cost about $1.2 million, including design and engineering fees.

Since 2009, the city has accumulated approximately $550,000 in nonprimary entitlement grants through MoDOT’s Aviation Division, leaving a local match of about $650,000.

The 12-unit T-hangar building, which will be able to house 10 small planes and two large planes, will cost an estimated $575,000.

The hangar will be paid for solely out of the city’s half-cent capital improvement sales tax fund.

The city plans to reimburse the fund through rental fees collected from those renting hangar space.

City Administrator Jim Briggs said the city could consider rolling this project into other city projects that are being refinanced.

The taxilanes and apron areas around the hangar will make up the remaining costs and be funded by the grants.

Last year, the city awarded separate contracts to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc. (CMT), to design the hangar and taxilanes.

Under a tentative time line provided by CMT, bids would be due in early June and construction could start in late June.

Based on a 130-calendar day construction schedule, the project could be completed by November.

Councilman Jeff Mohesky said the city has been talking for a long time about this project.

Currently, the Washington Regional Airport has 20 single hangar units and four large units and there is a waiting list for hangar space.