The Gate B4 Concrete Ramp project, included in the City's Capital Improvement Program, will replace the asphalt pavement at passenger loading Gate B4 with a new concrete ramp.  The Gate B4 area was originally intended to be used as a temporary location for parking aircraft when maintenance was being performed on the other passenger loading bridges or ramp surfaces, and as an area to handle emergency flight situations.  However, when Allegiant Air began serving the Billings area, due to operational needs, they were placed at Gate B4.  The daily use of this passenger loading bridge has caused the asphalt pavement to rut in the areas where the aircraft parks and the passenger loading bridge moves to and from the aircraft.  During the hot Summer months,  the asphalt softens and the wheels of the aircraft and the passenger loading bridge can sink into the pavement, causing the moving of the equipment to become difficult, which could result in damage to the aircraft due to the inability to move smoothly across the ramp area.  The Airport has provided steel plates that were placed over the ruts that the aircraft and bridge park on, but, this provided only a temporary solution.  This project will remove the existing asphalt pavement and replace it with a 16" thick concrete ramp that will accommodate all aircraft and equipment.  The project will also install new slotted drains to collect the storm water from this ramp. This project was advertised in the Billings Times for three weeks, and was posted on the City's Web Site. On February 9, 2010, the following bids on this project were received:

CONTRACTOR	BID
Knife River Construction	$577,407.20
Riverside Sand and Gravel	$649,000.00
JEM Contracting	$724,759.00
COP Construction	$775,912.00
CMG Construction	$977,320.00
ESTIMATE	$1,100,000

The Council may:

• Approve the award of the Gate B4 Concrete Ramp project; or
• Decline to approve the award of the Gate B4 Concrete Ramp project and not complete the project.

The total cost of this project is $577,407.20. The source of the funds for this project are budgeted in the Department's Passenger Facility Charge fund.

Staff recommends that City Council approve the award of the Passenger Facility Charge Funded Gate B4 Concrete Ramp Project to the low bidder, Knife River Construction, for the amount of $577,407.20.