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$1.6 Million, 1,000’ Airport Expansion Project
09/29/2009 - A much anticipated expansion of the runway at the Eastland Airport has got underway which will add 1,000 feet of runway to the Eastland Airport. This additional runway length will allow for more large aircraft to use the airport.
“We won’t be seeing anything like Air Force One,” said Eastland City Manager Ron Holliday, “but we do expect to see more traffic from larger aircraft. The longer runway will also make taking off and landing safer for aircraft presently using the airport.”
The airport has for many years been host to a number of small prop type airplanes. Over the past few years two major companies in the area have made home at the airport with their large jet aircraft and other jets occasionally land. The runway expansion will allow more to follow.
“According to pilots and others, a runway of at least 5,000 feet in length is a prerequisite from an aircraft insurance coverage standpoint,” Holliday said.
The expansion project began several years ago when the city began looking into the matter. The current project got off the ground once a grant was secured requiring the city to come up with only a 5% match. The Eastland Economic Development board came to the rescue, coming up with the $80,000 match which got the ball rolling.
Bids were sought and Jay Mills Contracting of Stephenville was awarded the contract by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division. Funding for this and other similar projects comes through annual federal aviation appropriations from Congress that are funneled through the state for various projects throughout Texas.
“Construction is expected to take 150 straight days,” Holliday noted, “which means with good weather we should be ready for a ribbon cutting around early to mid February.”
He noted the runway would need to be closed on a limited basis during the construction phase, but the public would be alerted when these closures would be necessary in plenty of time to make other arrangements.
“We plan to keep everyone involved up to date on the progress and hope to make this as smooth as possible,” Holliday said.
A TxDOT Aviation Regional meeting held in August at the Connellee Hotel informed airport owners and personnel of other airport projects around the area and state including the Eastland project.
Representatives from Stephens, Brown, Comanche and Eastland counties were present for the meeting where Daniel Benson and Josephine Jarrell presented the TxDOT Texas Airport System plan.
These meetings take place in each area every three years and bring updates and new state information to airport owners.
During this meeting it was noted of future Eastland airport projects could include a new airport office/terminal, new taxiways on the southwest side, and installation of automated weather instrumentation.
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