News Article

County receives $1.7M for airport

July 21, 2009

By Christopher Sardelli

The Lancaster County Airport will soon receive much-needed work to its runway.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced Thursday that the airport, as well as airports in Charleston and Greenville, was receiving grant money from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Lancaster County received $1.7 million for runway rehabilitation.

County Administrator Steve Willis said this is the second half of a $3.3 million grant intended to rehabilitate the runway. The first portion was received earlier.

The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for 95 percent of the funding, with the state and county each responsible for 2.5 percent of the amount.

The total amount the county is responsible for is $82,500.

Graham and his Republican colleague, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, and U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-5th District, supported the county’s funding application.

The money will be used to resurface the airport's 6,000-foot runway. The grant money will also be used to replace the runway's lighting system, which is 20 years old. This includes all runway lights and cables.

Willis said the project is sorely needed because the runway hasn't been resurfaced in more than 15 years.

It will be resurfaced with concrete, instead of asphalt as it has now.

There are several reasons why the county decided to use concrete for the runway rehabilitation project.

Willis said this eliminates the problem of grass growing through asphalt, which has happened as the asphalt has split over time.

Concrete also makes the runway stronger, which will allow it to accommodate heavier planes.

Willis expects the new concrete to last for at more than 30 years.

"The big thing we're looking for is longevity," Willis said. "It may cost a little more up front, but it will save so much more on the back end. We're pretty thrilled about this."

The funding came at a good time because with the down economy, the price of concrete is very economical, Willis said.

"We're really pleased we're going to be able to do the concrete," he said.

Gary Lott, a senior engineer with airport engineering firm LPA Associates, is excited the county was awarded the grant money. Lott has been working on the project with Willis and Doug Barnes, chairman of the county's airport commission.

"This will be a big plus for the airport," Lott said. "Everybody's really excited about the project. It should help the airport."

Lott said the project will involve strengthening the existing pavement, and then placing concrete on top of the pavement.

Lott expects a stronger runway will be a "nice showcase" for business people coming into the county. He said the airport is an important economic engine that could attract new businesses to the county.

"When a lot of companies look at expanding or relocating and they come into the county by airplane, this is the first thing they see. It's their first impression of the county. And this will give a very good first impression," Lott said.

Barnes agreed that the project will be beneficial to the county.

"This will put us in the position to be competitive with other major airports in the area," Barnes said.

Lott said the construction project should take 45 days, though a start date hasn't been determined.

"It will definitely happen this year," he said.

"It should move fairly quickly."

Contact reporter Chris Sardelli at csardelli@thelancasternews.com or at (803) 416-8416

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