Jackson County Airport in Walden, Colorado, has completed the full reconstruction of its runway 4/22. The project involved rebuilding the 5,900-foot runway to provide a stronger pavement base, improved surface, and updated safety markings. The airport is located one mile north of Walden and plays an important role in serving recreational pilots, business travelers, aerial firefighting teams, air ambulance services, and tourists in northwestern Colorado.
Kent Holsinger, Chair of the Colorado Aeronautical Board, commented on the importance of the airport for the local community. “The Walden-Jackson County Airport is an essential lifeline for our community, not only for business and tourism but also for emergency services like aerial firefighting and medical flights,” Holsinger said. “We’re extremely grateful and proud of the new runway and the dividends are sure to last for decades.”
Maria De Cambra, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), highlighted collaboration on funding for the project. “DOLA is proud to come together with our partners at the Colorado Department of Transportation for a total of $5.3 million in grant funding so the Jackson County airport has the infrastructure necessary to effectively serve the broader community,” De Cambra said. “Investments like this demonstrate the state’s commitment to rural Colorado, and making strides so that the same safe, modern infrastructure is available everywhere.”
Shoshana Lew, Executive Director of CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation), emphasized cooperation among agencies: “CDOT and our Aeronautics Division are proud to have joined our partners at DOLA and Jackson County to collaborate on funding this impactful project at the Walden/Jackson County Airiport,” Lew said. “As the primary airport for rural north-central Colorado, this new runway will allow the airport to continue to provide safe and efficient access for aerial firefighting operations, emergency air ambulance and other critical aviation services.”
