An excavator prepares to drop a shovel full of dirt as work continues on a drainage line during reconstruction of the main runway at The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. The 120-day, $46.6 million project is running ahead of schedule despite recent rainy weather. Jim Slosiarek/SourceMedia Group News

Reconstruction of the main runway at The Eastern Iowa Airport is running ahead of schedule despite the recent rainy weather.

“We were able to jump around and tackle some items planned for later on the schedule that worked when the weather wasn’t so good for pouring concrete,” said Sara Mau, airport director of operations. “We’re ahead of schedule, and by next Wednesday we will have half of the concrete poured.”

Mau said more than 3,000 cubic yards of concrete at a depth of 17 inches was poured in a single day last week.

“The work is split up into 25-foot lanes — the width of the paver — and they pave every other lane,” she said. “During the day, they prep the lanes to make sure everything is ready. They start paving about 2 p.m. and finish at about 5 a.m.

“It’s called hyperpaving, which allows the contractor to control the breakage and any cracks that might result from shrinking when it dries out. We have a better product than what we would have if they paved during the day.”

Hawkins Construction of Omaha, principal contractor for the $21.8 million final phase the $46.6 million project, has extensive experience in runway reconstruction. The company has been the primary contractor for similar projects at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield Airport.

“Hawkins has a reputation for getting projects done on time,” she said. “They’re set up for night work with lighting and equipment.”

The secondary runway at the airport will be closed for 25 days beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday to reconstruct its intersection with the main runway.

“That pavement was constructed in the mid-1940s and really needed to be replaced,” Mau said. “Runway 8/26, which is a converted taxiway, will be our only runway during the construction period. If the work is completed sooner than 25 days, we will open it back up earlier.”

Mau said pavement markings on the secondary runway will be covered and a large illuminated “X” will be erected at each end to indicate to pilots that it cannot be used.

She said UPS, which has a minimum runway width that is wider than the temporary runway, will be the only air carrier affected by the closing of the secondary runway.

“UPS will be contracting to bring in smaller aircraft during that 25-day period,” Mau said. “We were able to work with the cargo carriers and airlines to position reconstruction of the intersection during what is typically a slower period.”

Mau said work also is proceeding on schedule for additional airfield projects, including a new electrical vault and storm sewer crossings.

“This our one shot to do quite a bit of work out there,” she said. “With the effect it’s having on our air carriers and general aviation tenants, it’s nice to be able to get some other projects done.”

Mau said the Federal Aviation Administration is kept abreast weekly of progress on the 120-day reconstruction project.

The FAA has committed about $40 million toward the $47.3 million cost of the overall project, which includes the taxiway extension, electrical and lighting equipment and a $5.5 million reconstruction of the east end of the main runway in 2006. The airport will pay the difference as its 15 percent share of the overall project.

The Eastern Iowa Airport, while owned by the city of Cedar Rapids, does not receive city or county property tax dollars. It derives its federal and local funding from fees paid by the airlines, air travelers, rental car fees, concession revenue and passenger facilities charges.

Farmland values in Iowa continue to hold steady, with no drop in demand or price in the last few months.

Lee Vermeer

Farmers National Co. of Omaha, with an office in Iowa City, attributes the stability to investor interest in high quality land.

“Land is still a good investment for buyers, but they want the high quality properties that hold value,” said Lee Vermeer, vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National. “We are seeing values on the top quality ground at or even above the peaks we saw in 2008.

“In some cases, it’s beyond that point, above the $7,000 per acre mark. The market for these properties is strong and, based on economic indicators, we project that to continue.”

Vermeer added that the desire for high quality investments continues to push buyers away from the less productive land. Properties that are only partially arable or have non-productive soils are moving slowly and more time is needed to complete sales.

“Fewer landowners are willing to sell their property today leading to fewer listings,” Vermeer said. “Fewer farms or ranches for sale, along with strong buyer interest, have helped to fuel the recent strength in the market.”

A huge divergence in prices exists in Iowa and Minnesota. Sam Kain, area sales manager for Farmers National, said high quality land is bringing up to $7,000 an acre or more in Iowa and nearing $6,000 in Minnesota, while lower quality parcels are drawing minimal interest and coming in at much lower prices.

“Buyers are willing to pay top dollar for quality land,” said Kain. “However, there seems to be little interest in lower quality and recreational properties.”

Kain added that average land is moving, as long as the price is right, but bidding wars are a thing of the past.

A survey by the Iowa Farm and Land Chapter No. 2 of the Realtors Land Institute found an acre of high quality cropland was valued at $5,510 on March 1, up from $5,314 on Sept. 1, 2009.

Medium-quality farmland rose in value from $4,084 an acre on Sept. 1 to $4,206 on March 1. Low-quality cropland also increased, from $3,415 an acre on Sept. 1 to $3,449 on March 1.

A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago found that good quality Iowa farmland rose in value by 3 percent during the last quarter of 2009 and 4 percent during the entire year.