The Idaho Transportation Department achieved a milestone in 2011 when it completed the first asphalt paving of a backcountry airstrip in the state’s history. The Stanley airstrip project demonstrated how highway agencies and aeronautics divisions can combine resources to deliver cost-effective infrastructure improvements. This approach to precision asphalt paving required coordination between multiple teams, shared equipment, and strategic timing with an existing highway project. The result was a durable asphalt surface on a remote airstrip that serves critical transportation and emergency access needs in central Idaho.
The Strategic Partnership Behind the Asphalt Airstrip Project
The Stanley airstrip paving project is the first of 31 airstrips owned or operated by ITD to receive an asphalt surface. Airport maintenance manager Gary McElheney identified the need many years ago, but the remote location and limited budget made it impossible to justify as a standalone project. The breakthrough came when a highway construction project appeared in the same area.
Leveraging Highway Projects for Airstrip Improvements
Knife River of Idaho was scheduled to pave Idaho 75 from French Creek to Stanley, a highway project that required an asphalt plant to be set up nearby. McElheney kept a close watch on ITD District 4 highway projects in search of an opportunity to combine airport surfacing with road work. The proximity of the Idaho 75 project made it economically feasible to pave approximately 1,600 feet of the 4,300-foot Stanley runway.
Knife River agreed to make its asphalt plant available in advance of the highway work, allowing the airstrip paving to proceed before the road project began. This arrangement eliminated the single largest cost barrier that had prevented earlier paving of the runway.
Key Stakeholders in the Collaboration
- ITD Division of Aeronautics provided project oversight and airport-specific knowledge
- ITD District 4 highway maintenance crew supplied heavy equipment and labor
- Knife River of Idaho contributed the asphalt plant, materials, and paving expertise
- Highway maintenance workers Alan Knight, Val Elquist, Tony Rigby, and Rafael Rodriguez provided site preparation
- Aeronautics workers Todd Glass, Erik Rabe, and Gary McElheney managed the airport-specific requirements
Aeronautics Administrator JV DeThomas praised the effort, stating that District 4 was invaluable in making the project happen. The partnership stretched the division’s airport improvement funds further than they would have gone on their own.
Technical Aspects of the Asphalt Airstrip Paving Operation
The paving operation involved significant site preparation before any asphalt could be placed. The existing gravel surface had caused persistent problems for aircraft operating from the airstrip, making the conversion to asphalt a priority for safety and durability reasons.
Site Preparation and Base Work
ITD District 4 crews removed approximately 1,500 cubic yards of dirt and gravel from the existing runway surface. They replaced it with 1,350 cubic yards of crushed rock to create a stable base capable of supporting the new asphalt pavement. The crushed rock had been purchased previously by ITD, reducing the upfront material costs for the project.
Asphalt Application Quantities and Dimensions
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total runway length | 4,300 feet |
| Asphalt section paved | 1,600 feet by 30 feet |
| Access strip dimensions | 80 feet by 40 feet |
| Asphalt applied | 800 tons |
| Material removed from surface | 1,500 cubic yards |
| Crushed rock base installed | 1,350 cubic yards |
| Total materials cost | $52,000 |
| Cost savings through collaboration | $10,000 to $13,000 |
The crew paved one-third of the runway surface along with an 80-foot by 40-foot access strip on one end of the airstrip. This approach allowed Knife River to demonstrate the quality of their asphalt work before beginning the larger Idaho 75 highway project, while ITD gained a paved runway surface that eliminated the ongoing dust and gravel problems.
Equipment and Resource Sharing
The collaborative model allowed equipment to be shared across divisions:
- District 4 highway maintenance provided graders, loaders, and haul trucks for site preparation
- Knife River supplied the asphalt paver, rollers, and hot mix plant
- Aeronautics division contributed airport-specific guidance on runway grade and surface requirements
- The project was completed a day ahead of the original schedule thanks to the combined crew
McElheney noted that without the help of the District 4 highway maintenance crew, the project could not have been completed within the available budget. The joint effort stands as a model for how transportation departments can approach similar airport improvement projects in remote areas.
The Operational Impact of Asphalt Paving on the Stanley Airstrip
The Stanley airstrip had experienced dust problems for many years before the asphalt paving project. The gravel surface occasionally caused damage to aircraft propellers and paint when loose stones were kicked up during takeoffs and landings. ITD committed approximately $11,000 annually for dust abatement measures to minimize aircraft damage and reduce dust in the surrounding area.
The conversion to an asphalt surface eliminated these recurring costs and risks while providing a smoother, more predictable landing surface for pilots operating in the backcountry environment.
Traffic Volume and User Profile
The airstrip serves between 1,500 and 2,000 operations each year. Most of these operations are seasonal, driven by demand from:
- Outfitters providing access to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River
- Air charter services bringing recreational users to the backcountry
- Emergency response flights for wildfire suppression and medical transport
- Delivery of food, mail, and essential goods to residents in remote areas
The Stanley facility itself includes a small shop, a portable toilet, a picnic table, and a shelter for visiting aviators. These basic amenities make the airstrip functional for the seasonal traffic it receives while keeping maintenance requirements low. The state acquired the airstrip through an easement from the Harrah family of Las Vegas early in the 2000s.
Role in Idaho’s Backcountry Airstrip Network
Idaho operates the largest system of backcountry airstrips in the lower 48 states. These airstrips serve multiple critical functions beyond recreational aviation. They play an essential role in the state’s transportation system by providing access to remote communities that may be cut off by weather or road conditions for extended periods.
The airstrips support emergency operations including:
- Wildfire suppression staging and crew transport
- Medical evacuation from remote areas
- Search and rescue operations
- Delivery of essential supplies during road closures
The asphalt paving at Stanley represents a significant upgrade to one node in this network, providing a more reliable surface for these critical operations. The decision to pave the airstrip reflects a broader trend in transportation agencies finding creative ways to improve airport infrastructure through interdepartmental cooperation.
Lessons for Construction Teams from the Stanley Airstrip Project
The ITD Stanley airstrip project offers several practical lessons for construction professionals involved in asphalt paving and infrastructure work. The collaborative model used here can be applied to many other types of projects where budgets are tight and resources are spread across multiple agency divisions.
Build Cross-Departmental Relationships Ahead of Time
McElheney kept a close watch on District 4 highway projects for years, waiting for an opportunity to combine forces. This proactive monitoring of sister divisions’ project schedules made it possible to act quickly when the Idaho 75 project appeared. Construction teams responsible for specialized facilities like airstrips should maintain regular communication with their counterparts working on larger highway programs to identify similar opportunities.
The same principle applies to building customer loyalty in asphalt and paving relationships. When agencies demonstrate reliability through successful collaborations, future partnerships become easier to establish. The trust built during the Stanley airstrip project benefits all future joint efforts between the Aeronautics Division and District 4.
Timing Is Everything for Cost Sharing
The single most important factor enabling the Stanley airstrip paving was the timing of the adjacent highway project. Without the Knife River asphalt plant already scheduled to be in the area, mobilizing equipment to the remote Stanley location would have made the project prohibitively expensive. Construction professionals should look for ways to piggyback on larger, already-funded projects in their area to reduce mobilization and plant setup costs.
Understanding how pavement construction and asphalt equipment can be deployed across multiple project types is essential for maximizing equipment utilization. A highway asphalt plant can serve airport projects, parking lots, and other infrastructure in the same region if the scheduling aligns properly.
Quantify the Savings from Collaboration
The ITD project saved between $10,000 and $13,000 through the collaborative approach. Materials for the paving cost approximately $52,000. These documented savings make it easier to justify similar collaborative projects in the future. Construction teams should track and report cost savings from cross-departmental partnerships to build a business case for repeating the model.
Using road construction and asphalt paving equipment machinery across multiple projects within the same region reduces per-project equipment costs. The Stanley project demonstrated that even a relatively modest investment in materials, when combined with shared equipment and labor, can deliver significant infrastructure improvements that would otherwise remain unfunded.
Key Takeaways for Construction Professionals
- Monitor sister agency project schedules to identify cost-sharing opportunities well in advance
- Document all cost savings from collaborative approaches to build support for future partnerships
- Invest in site preparation and base work before asphalt placement to maximize pavement durability
- Plan for shared equipment utilization across multiple project types within the same geographic area
- Consider the operational benefits of asphalt surfaces beyond the initial construction cost savings
- Track recurring maintenance costs (such as dust abatement) to build the case for pavement upgrades
The Stanley airstrip project shows that creative collaboration between transportation divisions can deliver infrastructure improvements that serve communities for decades. When highway funds, aviation expertise, and private contractor capabilities combine around a common goal, the results benefit everyone involved.