Governor Jim Doyle has approved a $157,895 project to provide airfield pavement maintenance and design engineering at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport. The Governor’s action releases $3,947 in state funds to sealcoat and mark the airport’s primary Runway 14/32 and to provide design engineering for the reconstruction of Runway 11/29 and taxiway. The city of Prairie du Chien is contributing $3,948, and the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $150,000.

According to Michael Gabor, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the project will provide protection to the runway pavement by preventing further oxidation of the asphalt oils and will provide a new surface course. Design engineering will be completed for the badly deteriorated crosswind Runway 11/29 and taxiway pavement. The reconstruction of Runway 11/29 is scheduled for 2010.

The project is scheduled to begin in September 2009 and should be completed by November 2009.

Facilities at the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport include a 5,000-foot primary runway and a 4,000-foot secondary runway. Twenty aircraft are based at the airport and about 12,500 aircraft take-offs and landings occur each year.