Congressman Salazar announces $2.2  million in federal funding for Garfield County Regional Airport 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman John Salazar announced that $2.2 million in federal funding has been allocated to continue upgrades to the runway at Garfield County Regional Airport. The airport is currently in the process of realigning the runway and increasing the safety areas to better accommodate jet aircraft utilizing the mountain airport. 
 
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 fourteen feet. This will reduce the slope to less that one percent across the entire 7,000 foot runway.   

Congressman Salazar offered the following comment on these airport improvements:

“As a pilot I know how important it is to constantly maintain our airport infrastructure. I’m glad that this funding will continue the work Garfield County Regional Airport has been doing to provide safe and efficient air service for those in and around Garfield County. I am proud to have supported this effort and I will continue to work to provide necessary funding for projects that put Coloradoans to work and improve our infrastructure.”

On the runway project, Rifle Mayor Keith Lambert offered the following comment:

“Strengthening one’s transportation system anywhere in country, particularly in western Colorado and Garfield County is paramount in insuring the overall economic diversity the area needs, warrants and deserves. To have a partner like Congressman Salazar is a great benefit to all of the citizens of the City of Rifle and to the region at large.”