Representatives from the City of Oak Harbor and U.S. Navy celebrated the completion of a fuel pipeline construction project at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s fuel operations facility on Ault Field with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30, 2014.

The P-188 Fuel Pipeline Replacement construction project, managed by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, completes a series of projects to modernize the base’s fuel system infrastructure.

The new line allows more fuel to be pumped through a shorter line in less time. Pumping capacity increased from 1,000 gallon per minute to 2,000.

Construction of the $17. 5 million project, which transports jet fuel from Sea Plane Base to Ault Field, started in February 2013, finished three months ahead of schedule and $800,000 under budget on May 13.

Capt. Mike Nortier, NAS Whidbey Island’s commander officer, said the success of the project was due to the positive working relationships between all of the government and non-government partners, which allowed expedient solutions to potential safety, design and regulatory roadblocks.

“This is a real testament to the great relationship that exists between the city and county governments and the base,” he said.