Idaho Airport Reopens Following Completion of Runway Rehabilitation

ID – Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Hailey, Idaho, reopened on May 17 after a month-long closure during which Runway 13/31 and Taxiway B were refurbished. The project included milling and infilling the runway and Section 1 Apron with fresh asphalt, building new shoulders and a blast pad on the runway, and crack filling and seal coating the taxiway. In addition, new energy-efficient LED runway edge lighting was installed and the Runway Safety Area was extended from 600 feet to the FAA standard of 1000 feet. This extension also necessitated earthwork to flatten and smooth out terrain contours, planting grass, and moving the perimeter fence accordingly.

The $8.6 million project was fully funded by the FAA and used no airport dollars. However, the airport did spend $1.3 million to repair and improve public parking lots outside the fence. The asphalt millings were recycled for use in local road and street repairs through partnerships between the airport and Blaine County Road and Bridge Department as well as the City of Hailey Streets Department.