Airport concludes $149M capital improvement program

On Nov. 10, officials at the Springfield-Branson National Airport are scheduled to host a ceremony rededicating its longest runway, which has been closed since June for repaving. The event marks the end of a five-year $148.6 million capital improvements program meant to modernize the airport.

“This has been the largest capital improvements program in the airport’s 66-year history,” said Brian Weiler, the airport’s director of aviation, in a news release.

The capital improvements program began in May 2006 with the ground breaking for the airport’s $117 million midfield terminal, which opened in 2009. Other projects include:

• a new taxiway, finished in 2010 at a cost of $14 million;
• runway repaving, finished this month for $8.4 million;
• a new fire station, completed in 2009 at a cost of $4.4 million.
• a new fuel farm, completed in 2009 totaling $3.3 million;
• an access road for new a fire station and fuel farm, which was finished in 2009 at a cost of $800,000; and
• a new fire truck and equipment, acquired in 2009 at a price of $700,000.

The airport secured $97 million in revenue bonds to fund the construction of its two-year-old terminal, and $45 million in federal funding for the other capital improvement projects, according to Springfield airport spokesman Kent Boyd. He said the airport contributed more than $6 million of its own funds to the five-year improvements program.

The runway rededication ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at a secure site on the airfield at 2300 N. Airport Blvd.[[In-content Ad]]