A low bid of $106,194 has been received from HN Donahoo Contracting Co., Inc., of Birmingham to upgrade the southern approach to the runway at Hartselle-Morgan County Regional Airport.

The project involves the regrading and reshaping of an 800-foot section at the southern end of the runway, according to Jeff Johnson, director of Hartselle’s Department of Development.

“That end of the runway is uneven and rocky and is not safe for a pilot to use in the event of an emergency,” Johnson said. “That will be corrected when this work is done.”

Johnson said most of the aircraft that use the Hartselle airport are smaller planes, which mostly wouldn’t have to worry about the extended safety area, but the larger planes would need the extra safety area.

The project is being funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Agency, which will pay 90 percent of the grant with the local match being 10 percent. However, Johnson said the city could receive half of the local match through the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Bureau.

If approved, the city would only have to pay $5,300 of the project. Johnson felt confident that the city could get the ALDOT match.

The Hartselle City Council will consider accepting the low bid at its Tuesday meeting. Johnson said he would recommend approving the match because it met bid specifications.

Woodward Construction in Hartselle also submitted a bid of $127,698.

Johnson said the city has not yet received money from FAA for the project, but he said the agency doesn’t release money for the project until a bid is accepted and meets its criteria.