Airport at MidAmerica Industrial Park to receive upgrades and improvements
01/18/2016
Source: Cydney Baron
With the promise of federal funds in hand, Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority is making a multi-million dollar upgrade to the MidAmerica Industrial Airport runway.
“The existing runway is a 5,000 foot long asphalt runway connected to a partial parallel taxiway. In the early 1990s a 1,000 foot extension took it from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The airport was first constructed in the mid-1960’s, and was owned and operated by a county trust authority on property leased from OOWA. In 1989 the OOWA assumed operation and sponsorship of the airport for purposes of future development and operation of the airport facility,” Williams explained. Williams said the current project has been programmed as one of several projects on MidAmerica’s Five Year Capital Improvement (CIP) plan supervised by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
“This project is a significant step in ensuring that the runway and taxiway surfaces at the MidAmerica Industrial Airport continue to be in top condition for both our locally based pilots and pilots who occasionally land their aircraft and visit. We are very appreciative of the efforts by the Federal Aviation Agency and the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission to assist MidAmerica with our ongoing airport improvement process,” Williams said.
Funding for the project is divided between three sources, Williams said. The Federal Aviation Agency will reimburse OOWA for 90 percent of the project, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission will pay for five percent and OOWA will cover the remaining five percent. Williams said OOWA will fund the initial cost, but should receive all reimbursements from the FAA and OAC by the end of the year.
The projects scope of work includes the milling down of one-and-one-half inches of the existing runway and adding a five inch asphalt overlay, then the application of new paint markings and centerline stripe. Williams estimated the project will take between 30 and 45 days.
"Senator Jim Inhoffe and Congressman Markwayne Mullin have made improvements to aviation infrastructure an important part of their agenda. We are grateful for their help in getting this project funded and moving toward completion,” Williams said.
Mullins said, “My office was pleased to be able to relay the good news that the MidAmerica Industrial Airport received a grant for airport upgrades. Transportation infrastructure upgrades are an important part of ensuring continued economic growth in our region.”