PRICE — A maintenance project has been approved for the Mexican Mountain airstrip in Emery County.
The Bureau of Land Management has authorized the Utah Back Country Pilots Association to conduct maintenance work on 450 feet of the airstrip.
The backcountry airstrip, which is located inside the boundaries of the Mexican Mountain Wilderness Study Area, was originally constructed in 1975 to provide access for an exploratory oil and gas well.
Oil and gas development in the area did not move forward, but the backcountry airstrip has been used by recreational pilots over the past 39 years and is in need of maintenance due to vegetation overgrowth.
The Utah Back Country Pilots Association will perform maintenance that will restore the airstrip to its original width and 2,000-foot length.
The airstrip will be closed for the duration of the work, which is anticipated to be a week to 10 days. No motorized access or mechanized equipment is authorized for this maintenance project. Horses will pack in the necessary items and hand tools will be used for all vegetation removal.
Use of the airstrip by recreational pilots was authorized in 2008.