Vermont Business Magazine The 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG), announced late Saturday night that it has accepted a $39.8 million contract bid from Kubricky Construction Corp of Wilton, NY, on a major construction project for apron replacement and taxiway upgrade at the Air National Guard Base located at the Burlington International Airport. Kubricky Construction Corp. has been a division of the DA Collins Companies, since 1983. DA Collins is a full-service civil construction group that provides a wide range of services to clients in the public and private sectors. With major industry projects dating back to 1948.
Construction is expected to begin this fall with a two-year completion date to repair the majority of the airfield pavement surfaces, including a primary parking apron and taxiways Delta and Foxtrot.
A total of approximately 166,000 square yards of surfaces will be affected. These surfaces support all current F-16 flying operations for the Vermont Air National Guard and transient military aircraft.
US Air Force Col. Hank Harder, commander, 158th Fighter Wing mission support group, discusses major construction project with Captain Jason Villemare, 158th Fighter Wing civil engineer officer at the Vermont Air National Guard, South Burlington, September 23, 2016. VTANG photo.
“Safety is a top priority at the VTANG, and we make every effort to execute all of our missions as safely as possible. Continuous upgrades to installations are necessary to maintain a safe operational environment. This project is key for our current and future operations and will allow us to meet our training requirements. We are looking forward to working with Kubricky Construction Corp. over the longevity of this extensive project.” per Col. Hank Harder, 158th FW Mission Support Group Commander.
The airfield pavement layout has remained relatively unchanged since original construction in the 1950s with major repairs to the asphalt surfaces of Delta and Foxtrot taxiways required over the last 40 years, and extensive annual maintenance repairs to sustain and maximize the life span of all of its surfaces. The pavements have reached the end of their effective life; resulting in sustainment repairs no longer being a cost effective option.
The current project is expected to provide aircraft operating surfaces with a lifespan of 50 years, and was designed by Pond & Company Architects, Engineers, Planners out of Norcross, GA.
Captain Jason Villemaire, 158th Fighter Wing Base Civil Engineer commented, “The Vermont Air National Guard will continue to provide safe and resilient installations infrastructure to train and support the nation's national security strategy with the projection of our nation's air power now and in the next half century.”
Source: South Burlington, Vermont Air National Guard. 9.24.2016