A replacement for Black Rock Airport, the Andrew Othole Memorial Airport is the culmination of a 15-year effort to build the first entirely new airport in New Mexico since 2005.

The new facility allows Zuni residents quicker access to enhanced health care and emergency services outside of the community. It also is intended to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also offers access to forest-fire suppression and training facilities.

There were two construction phases, with the first being earthwork, fencing, concrete encased ducts, electrical manholes and drainage structures. In order to meet FAA criteria, workers moved 473,000 cu yd of dirt, with a relative elevation change of 90 ft.

The second stage of construction was pavement, marking, signage, airfield lighting and visual aids.  Sustainable principles were used, including LEDs for taxiway apron lights and signage.

Keeping project costs within the $6-million budget was a major design goal.