Jackson County Airport, located one mile north of Walden, has finished a $5.7 million reconstruction of its main runway - Runway 4/22 - after a full rebuild from the ground up.

The 5,900-foot runway now has a stronger base, smoother surface, and updated safety markings. The project was needed to keep the airport safe and usable for years to come.

The airport is a lifeline for rural northwestern Colorado. It supports emergency services like air ambulances and aerial firefighting, as well as small business flights, tourism, and private pilots.

Because the airport is not eligible for federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration, the project was paid for entirely with state and local money. The funds came from three sources: Colorado’s Division of Aeronautics, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and Jackson County.

“This airport is not just for tourists or business travelers—it’s a critical connection for life-saving flights,” said Kent Holsinger, Chair of the Colorado Aeronautical Board. “We’re proud this new runway will serve our community for decades.”

Maria De Cambra, Executive Director of DOLA, said the state is committed to making sure rural areas like Walden have safe, modern infrastructure. Shoshana Lew, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, added that the new runway will help emergency planes land safely and quickly in remote parts of north-central Colorado.

The airport supports four local jobs, brought in $184,000 in business revenue last year, and added $113,000 to Colorado’s economy, according to the 2025 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study. The airport, known by its code 33V, is the main air hub for the North Park region. It’s one of 76 public airports in Colorado supported by the state’s Aeronautics Division.

Editor’s note: Portions of this article have been augmented with the assistance of Large Language Models for analysis, with human review, editing, and original material.