Loveland advances $935,499 for airport runway widening

The Loveland City Council approved on first reading a $935,499 increase to its 2026 budget for widening the Northern Colorado Regional Airport runway.

Runway 15/33 is the airport’s only operational runway, and at 100 feet wide, it falls short of the 150-foot minimum under Federal Aviation Administration standards for its design category. The project would widen it to 150 feet, replace lighting and signage, improve drainage and rebuild connector taxiways. “Absent that action, the airport cannot fully open until those monies are appropriated back to the project,” a staff member said.

Loveland and Fort Collins jointly own the airport, and both councils must approve budgets and large capital projects. “Since we jointly own the airport 50/50, is Fort Collins approving its corresponding share of the additional expense?” a council member asked. Fort Collins was approving its share and had a presentation that evening for its first and only reading, the staff member said.

The ordinance would put $935,499 toward the runway project: $607,759 in Federal Aviation Administration grant revenue and $327,740 from the Airport Fund’s unassigned balance. A project presentation says funding comes entirely from federal and state aviation sources and airport reserves, with no money from the city’s General Fund. The staff report projects a total budget of $20,696,758.27 if the increase is approved.

The staff report attributes the added costs primarily to FAA-directed safety changes, more inspection and testing for 24-hour construction, infrastructure work and operational support. It says contractor Amrize chose day and night shifts for the project’s second phase in August, with FAA approval. The expanded schedule requires nighttime inspections by Dibble Engineering and testing by its subconsultant Terracon beyond the coverage originally budgeted.

Construction began June 1 and is expected to be substantially complete in early November, the staff report says. The runway was expected to be done in the second week of November, possibly a week earlier, the staff member said. The report calls for limited nighttime closures in spring 2027 for painting, seal coating and grooving.