Federal stimulus cash paves the way at Bellingham airport

JOHN STARK - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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BELLINGHAM - Bellingham International Airport will get $3.3 million in federal stimulus money for repaving ramps and taxiways, Port of Bellingham Aviation Director Art Choat said.

The money appropriated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being directed to Bellingham from the Federal Aviation Administration, Choat said. Engineering plans for much of the paving work had been prepared in 2008, but the money to pour the concrete was not immediately available.

The port will take bids on the work and get the repaving under way in the next few months.

PHILIP A. DWYER | THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Bellingham International Airport

Choat said the airport pavement needs work because of the wear and tear caused by the increasing number of MD-80 jets operated here by Allegiant Air, a vacation-oriented Las Vegas-based carrier that has managed to expand and turn a profit while nearly all of the larger airlines cut service amid mounting losses.

Allegiant began flying out of Bellingham with Las Vegas service in August 2004, and has since expanded its local schedule to include nonstop flights to Reno, Nev.; Mesa, Ariz.; Palm Springs; Oakland, Calif.; and San Diego. Beginning May 2, Allegiant will offer flights to Los Angeles.

Once the work is complete, Choat said passengers may notice a smoother ride as their flights taxi in and out of the terminal area.