It’s been a long time coming, but construction of a new runway at the local airport is underway and the preliminary work is progressing ahead of schedule.
Grading and drainage started Oct. 19, members of the local Board of Aviation Commissioners learned Monday. John Baer of Woolpert, the design and engineering firm enlisted by the BoAC, said the company doing the work is contracted for 39 days but should finish sooner.
“I’d say they’re about 75 percent finished,” Baer said, adding that he is hopeful at least some pavement can by laid down before winter weather arrives.
Boyd & Son Construction of Washington, Indiana, was the low bidder for the first phase of the project that will eventually result in a new runway designed at 4,201 feet long. The new runway was originally designed at 5,000 feet but was scaled back by the Federal Aviation Administration based on air traffic patterns and the types of aircraft commonly using the facility.
The first phase includes grading and drainage work for the western half of the project at a cost of $571,802.25. Of that, $514,622 is funding from the FAA. The state contributed $28,590. Local funding of $28,590 completes funding requirements for Phase 1.
Baer said some approximately 30 acres on the east side and 20 acres on the west side of the project still need to be purchased as part of the Runway Protection Zone required by the FAA. New Castle Mayor Greg York suggested the board try to negotiate first right of refusal on all of the land involved as soon as possible.
“I’d like to get the land put behind us. I think it’s important we get the land secured,” York said.
The idea behind the additional land is to create a buffer zone near both ends of the runway to prevent the landowners from constructing a new barn, silo or other structure that would create a potential obstacle or hazard for aircraft approaching or leaving the airport.
It was decided the landowners involved will be contacted to solicit their interest in entering into a written agreement with the BoAC that would given the aviation board a first option to purchase if the landowners decide to sell the property involved in the future.
“I think this will make the FAA really happy because they want boards like this to do everything in their power to protect their air space. I think this is a good first step,” Baer said.
Construction is scheduled to continue in 2016 at an estimated cost of $3.4 million and in 2017 at an estimated cost of $2.5 million. The airport improvements are expected to total $9.2 million, according to the capital improvement plan drafted by Woolpert.
A longer runway that will accommodate small jets and large propeller-driven aircraft is needed for economic development purposes, according to Murphy and other local elected officials.
The airport is located on County Road 400 South, east of Ind. 103, approximately four miles from New Castle’s downtown business district.
