Teamwork creates award-winning work, and that’s the case for Alder Airfield Services partner, Andrews County Airport located in Andrews, Texas.
The airport, one of 300 in the state, was awarded the 2024 TxDOT Airport Project of the Year Award at its annual Texas Aviation Conference held in April. Alder Airfield Services supported the $8 million project with Representative Project Management services provided by veteran RPR Lloyd Burtsell, who has been with Alder since 2022.
“We are so thrilled to play a part in Andrews County Airport’s amazing success in their progress towards making their taxiways and runways safer and more accessible for everyone who uses it,” said Ali Munzer, Alder Airfield Services President and CEO. “Alder is in the business of keeping people safe. Working with Andrews County on their improvements most certainly aligned with our mission and vision for safer transportation.”
The county airport was chosen for “Runway 16-34 and Taxiway A Reconstruction,” a grant-funded project for main runway reconstruction and expansion, according to an article published by Andrews County News. The TxDOT based the award on cost-effectiveness, sustainability and efficiency.
“The two-phase construction plan not only minimized runway closures, but also ensured minimal disruption to businesses relying on the airport,” TxDOT said in a statement. “By embracing a cost-effective, sustainable, and efficient approach, this project has not only reconstructed infrastructure but has laid the foundation for a brighter future at Andrews County Airport.”
Andrews County Airport Manager Robert Vargas is no stranger to leading award-winning work. He won Airport Professional of the Year in 2023, an accomplishment he said comes from building great teams.
“So many people have supported my efforts and this award was definitely a result of other people’s hard work. I’m just here to witness their effort,” Vargas said in an interview.
Other partners on the project include Garver engineering and Duinink heavy construction. Alex Jessop, who led Garver engineering efforts, said he was equally proud to be a part of such a successful team effort.
“We were proud to provide civil design and construction administration services to help them continue to grow and serve their communities,” Jessop said in a LinkedIn post.
According to TxDOT, Texas general aviation airports provide more than 48,000 jobs, with $2.5 billion in payroll and $9.3 billion in total economic output. Alder Airfield Services is honored to be a part of this success in Texas and beyond!