SMITHVILLE — The planes will return to the runway at the Wayne County Airport on Sunday.
The airport will reopen its runway for the first time in over a month. The runway was closed on May 4 to start construction on the new full-length parallel taxiway. Heavy rains delayed construction that needed to be completed before the runway could open again.
"We certainly understand the frustrations of the pilots not being able to get out of the airport," said County Commissioner Sue Smail. "We are in constant contact with the contractor in stressing the need to move in an expeditious manner."
The runway was opened temporarily on May 31 to allow tenets to remove their planes from the field. Large yellow X's were placed on each end of the runway to alert pilots in the sky that the runway was closed.
CHA Consulting out of Cleveland is building the new taxiway. Construction crews have torn out the old taxiway, poured concrete for the exits off the runway on each end, and continue to move dirt in the area of the new taxiway. The dirt will be moved to the east and west ends of the airport grounds to provide the opportunity for expansion.
The new taxiway will stretch the complete length of the runway with multiple exits from the runway and sit back the required 300 feet away from the center of the runway. The old taxiway only ran half the length of the runway and sat 240 feet back from the center of the runway.
The airport also is adding new LED taxiway lights and converting its signage to LED lights as well, which will save money on utility costs, according to airport manager Amanda McGee. Construction crews also will pave a road to the National Weather Service station located on the grounds for easier access.
Planes landing over the next few months will have to back taxi on the runway to reach the one remaining exit that leads to the hangars. The new taxiway is expected to be completed by September.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the county airport more than $5 million in grant funding under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) last fall. The estimated cost of the project is $5.2 million.
The FAA requires a 10% match of funds. The county is providing 5% of the match and the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Aviation is providing the other 5%. The county will contribute about a total of $260,000 to the project.
The grant money allowed the county to complete the new taxiway much quicker than anticipated. The original plan had 12 phases.
The airport has taken advantage of the closure by performing several maintenance projects including stripping and repainting the floor in its hangar and repainting apron markings on the runway.
— Reach Emily Morgan at 330-287-1632 or [email protected]. On Twitter: @mogie242
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