A project is nearing completion in the City of Jefferson that has been several years in the making.

The municipal airport will have its main runway extended from 3,200-feet to 4,000-feet. City Engineer with Bolton and Menk Jim Leiding says the project included relocating a county road at the south end of the runway to make room for the extension, along with the extension itself. Bolton and Menk Senior Aviation Engineer Carl Byers says the project is entirely paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration’s supplemental grant of $2.3 million, which the City was awarded two years ago. 

He talks about some added features, which because of the pandemic, the FAA has agreed to entirely pay for as well for a total of $300,000. The features include a turnaround at the south end of the runway and upgrading the lighting system.

“We looked at the existing runway lighting system and not only is it an incandescent, old system, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and as an incandescent system (it) draws a lot of power. So we will be completely replacing the runway lighting with all LED lighting, which will bring the power consumption on an annual basis down by probably 60-75-percent.”

Byers points out the extension allows for a safer airport for landing aircraft and it will be able to handle small jet airplanes as well. Leiding anticipates the runway to begin paving on April 12th with the project to be completely finished by this fall. To hear more from Lieding and Byers, listen to today’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.