Client: State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Central Region
Location: Ekwok, Alaska
Project Completion: 2005 – $4.25 million
PDC Involvement:
- Civil Engineering (Planning and Design)
- Electrical Engineering (Design)
- Environmental Assessment (NEPA)
Ekwok’s community airport was expanded in the summers of 2004 and 2005. In order to meet FAA standards, the airport was realigned and extended away from the village center.
Airport development was constrained on all four sides by the community, a river, and Native allotments. Viable options, including relocation, were compared during the scoping phase. A primary consideration in the selection of the preferred alternative was to avoid a large Native allotment next to the existing airport property.
Key elements in the project’s success:
- Close and continued coordination with the community residents and leaders
- Close working relationship between PDC and the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Materials, Survey, and Right-of-Way Sections to keep the project on schedule; fostered by PDC’s quick response with necessary support graphics, volume estimates, and right-of-way requirements
- Well-developed construction documents, resulting in successful project completion with far fewer than average change orders
Tasks performed by PDC:
- Airport planning
- Site selection
- Airport layout plan development
- Airport design, including plans, specifications, and cost estimates
- Airport lighting design
- Primary power relocation
- Environmental documentation and permit preparation
- Public involvement
“…[W]e had very good luck with your design. It was very complete and straight forward … virtually no over runs … [I]t makes our job in construction a lot easier when we get designs like this one. You [Ken Risse] and PDC deserve a pat on the back for your major contribution to an excellent project.”
— Sean Holland, DOT&PF Central Region
