As part of an effort to maintain and repair critical airfield pavement, the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) closed from April 6 th – April 23 rd . This work included the targeted removal and replacement of distressed surface pavement, the application of crack seal to prevent water intrusion, and the replacement of worn paint markings. The project was divided into three sub- projects, based on their federal grant funding eligibility:

Project Area 1: Runway and taxiway areas that have not been repaired during the past several years. These areas were eligible to receive federal and state grant funds. The FAA pay for 90% while the State covers 5% of the costs associated with these repairs.

Project Area 2: Runway Centerline. Crack repair due to sub-surface conditions. This section of the runway have been repaired as recently as 2022, and therefore, was not eligible for federal or state grant funding.

Project Area 3: North General Aviation Ramp. This area is expected to be reconstructed as part of a new Fixed Base Operator (FBO) leasehold, and therefore, was not eligible for federal or state grants. Repairs were minimized to simply extend the useful life of the pavement in preparation for eventual reconstruction.

Subsequent pavement work will be performed in August once the repairs have fully cured. This will include grooving new paved areas to provide additional traction and drainage on the runway surface, a slurry seal coat to prevent runway water intrusion, and the application of permanent
paint markings. This work will be undertaking during nighttime curfew hours to prevent interruptions to aircraft operations.

The total cost of the repairs were approximately $5.13 million, with $3,469,301 coming from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant, $264,999 from a State of Colorado Department of Aeronautics grant, with the remaining $1.4 million paid by the Airport.

During the next month, the Airport, along with its pavement engineering consultant, will develop a preliminary scope and budget for anticipated repairs slated for the Spring of 2025. Due to adverse subsurface conditions, and until the runway can be fully reconstructed, annual closures of at least three weeks can be expected, with the potential for unscheduled closures.