Runway Sealing Project Off to a Toasty Start

HARRISON – The runway crack-sealing project at Clare County Airport 80D got started Aug. 2 with some measuring to determine the volume of herbicide that would be required to kill off all the vegetation growing in the cracks. Administrator Lori Phelps took it upon herself to step up to that task, as well as tackling the herbicide application. She ordered the herbicide from Johnston Elevator in Clare at a cost of $100 for enough product to mix with water and yield 150 gallons for spraying.

Phelps is a very hands-on project tackler, but was fortunate to have her husband, Johnny, step up on his Friday off to help with the actual spraying. The two rode up and down the 2,978-foot runway spritzing, circling, and spritzing some more until the full .5640-mile of asphalt was treated.

The projected timeline includes the herbicide application, followed in about a week by clearing and blowing out the cracks. That step is intended to ensure proper adhesion of the new sealing product which will be applied by the vendor in a demonstration for the Clare County Road Commission along with representatives from other road commissions. The projected date for the demonstration is Aug. 22.