Runway reconstruction started at the Hollister Municipal Airport on Monday and was expected to result in a closure to the facility for 18 days, a city official announced at this week’s council meeting.
City official Mike Chambless, who oversees the airport and other departments, announced to council members that the runway work started Monday and would last for nearly three weeks.
The Hollister Municipal Airport is benefitting from $9 million in federal grant funds awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, with help from Congressman Sam Farr, to do the work. Farr announced the second part of the funding, a $5.8 million grant, back in September.
Chambless explained to council members Monday how this current work is actually a phase two, after cracks had been filled in 2007.
That was the year Caltrans put out a warning about the eroding quality of the runway in Hollister. The airport experienced a decrease in demand, and officials started looking at ways to pay for the needed upgrades.
Nine years later, at 3 a.m. Monday, the final, major phase of the project broke ground, Chambless said. Other recent, related work at the airport with federal funds has included upgrades to the stormwater system as well.
As for the current work, Chambless said the airport will close until April 22.
