If you ever wanted to bike down a runway ...

ASPEN — Ever wanted to ride a bike on an airport runway? You might just have that chance.



To celebrate the on-time completion of the $12 million runway resurfacing project at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, county officials will host an open house from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 6. The event will precede the airport’s reopening after a 60-day closure, and the first flight arriving at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 7.



There will be food, music, a ribbon-cutting and an open house in the terminal, said Pat Bingham, the county’s community relations coordinator.



Guests can inspect the cosmetic upgrades to the existing terminal — a new coat of paint, carpet, new electronic signs and a restaurant — then walk through the terminal security area unchecked and onto the new runway surface, Bingham said.



And whether by foot, bicycle, unicycle, inline skates or wheelchair, Bingham said all are invited to get out on the fresh, smooth pavement.



“It’s a great window of opportunity … once-in-a-lifteime,” Bingham said. “It’s a whole mile without a hill.”



Bingham stressed that the airport would conduct a careful screening before greeting the first flight June 7. And Bingham echoed county commissioners, saying the work does not include a runway extension, just resurfacing. Improvements to the terminal building are just cosmetic touch-ups to the existing terminal — not a new terminal.