Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to Concentrate on Ground Projects
PITTSTON TWP. — The airport plans some sprucing up and new features in the next couple of years.
Last month, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport board hired the consulting firm McFarland-Johnson Inc., Binghamton, New York, for final design of the extension of the taxiway to its main runway’s southern end. That will allow planes to take off more quickly and safely.
The design contract is for almost $1.45 million with 90% coming from the Federal Aviation Administration, and 5% each from the state Department of Transportation and airport passenger facility charges on airline tickets. The airport previously hired McFarland-Johnson in July 2018 for up to $457,748 to study the extension’s environmental effects and conduct preliminary engineering.
“We anticipate we could be close to a year in design,” airport engineering director Stephen Mykulyn said.
That would mean construction begins in 2021. It will take at least two construction seasons, he added. Construction seasons last from spring to fall, depending on weather. Federal approvals of funding could also affect the schedule, he said.
The airport extended the taxiway to the runway’s northern end 1,200 feet at a cost of $15.2 million, finishing the job in 2017. The main runway stretches 7,501 feet. The extensions mean planes can roll directly to a runway’s end instead of driving down a runway and turning around to take off.
In the spring, the New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. will begin repaving the taxiway airport’s secondary, 2,250-foot runway for about $2.77 million.
Construction is expected to take most of the year.
The main access road to the airport terminal is also due for a new coat of pavement next year.
“We’re continuing to work on the design of that project,” Mykulyn told the airport board last month.
The airport hired KBA Engineering of Jermyn in June to handle design. After plans are complete, the airport will seek paving bids.
Mykulyn said engineers considered simply patching, but decided on a more complete repair of the road’s base.
“The economics work out better. We’re going to be looking at taking up the entire paved surface and putting in new paved surface,” he said. “In the long run, while it will cost us a little bit more, frankly, it’ll work for us because long range we’ll get a better product.”
The airport is also looking for grants to pay for a new business center for passengers and proposals are due this month for designing a hangar for private airplanes.
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