Countywide : Public Emergency Declared at Airport
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared a public emergency at the Oxnard Airport to hasten repairs on the main runway.
The $1.56-million repair project, mandated in February after a Federal Aviation Administration inspection revealed deterioration of the runway and taxiways, will force officials to close the runway to fixed-wing planes for 10 days in early July.
FAA inspectors directed airport officials to complete the repair work by July or face possible fines or the closure of the facility, Public Works Agency Deputy Director Robert E. Quinn said.
Planned repairs include grinding down the asphalt pavement of the runway and taxiways, lengthening the runway, replacing the old surface with new runway material and placing traction grooves on the new surface, Quinn said.
The emergency declaration, approved by a unanimous vote, allows public works officials to suspend the routine bidding process to meet the FAA deadline, Quinn said. “This enables us to cut as many corners as we can but still ensures we get a good response and a true competitive bid climate for the construction job,” Quinn said.
Officials predicted that anywhere from six to 15 firms would bid on the construction project, tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-June.
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