RIFLE, Colorado — John Salazar, Colorado's 3rd Congressional District congressman, announced that $17.5 million in federal funding has been allocated to upgrade the runway at Garfield County Regional Airport. This funding is in addition to the $13.5 million for the same project announced in May. The airport is currently in the second year of a three-year project that will upgrade the runway safety area to better accommodate jet aircraft.

Some of the improvements include expanding the safety area around the runway from 300 feet to 500 feet, new aircraft instrument approaches from the east and west and reducing the slope of the runway by lowering the east end approximately seven feet and raising the west end approximately 14 feet. This will reduce the slope to less that 1 percent across the entire 7,000 foot runway. This year's work includes moving an estimated 1.8 million cubic yards of dirt and gravel into to the new safety area, and at some locations constructing embankments more than 60 feet high.

“As a pilot myself, I know how important it is to make sure that rural airports receive the same attention and funding that urban airports receive,” Salazar said in a prepared statement. “This critical federal funding will assist the Garfield County Regional Airport in its efforts to prepare for future traffic and expand its ability to provide safe and efficient air service for pilots and residents in and around Garfield County.”

Garfield County Regional Airport Director Brian Condie said the hope is to see the project completed by November 2010.

Rifle Mayor Keith Lambert said Salazar's efforts have been instrumental in moving the project forward.

“The expansion of our local airport is certainly a benefit to the citizens of the community of Rifle and will lead to greater economic diversity,” Lambert said in the Salazar news release. “We're grateful for any fiscal impact and grateful for the efforts of Representative Salazar.”