The pandemic hasn’t slowed construction projects at CRW.
Several different projects are happening, both on the airfield and inside the terminal. Our passenger numbers are going up, flights are returning, and the military is increasing their activity at CRW. Despite some changes around Yeager Airport due to COVID-19, there are still plenty of exciting things happening. Let’s takeoff around CRW and see what is happening.
Runway Safety Area Project – This project has been years in the making. The final result will be a 7,000-foot runway with standard 1,000-foot safety areas on each end. The first phase of the project, which is an environmental assessment, is close to getting started. Airport administrators have been talking with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and those talks have gone well.
Post-Security Restaurant/Bar – If you have been to the airport recently, you have no doubt seen the giant white wall where the gift shop and bar used to be. Some exciting things are happening behind those walls. When construction is complete next month, we will have a completely new café and bar. The gift shop will also have a new look.
Runway Rehabilitation – Every 10-15 years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires airports to rehab runways. Work is already underway on Runway 5/23. Right now, crews are cutting sections of the runway that need repaving. The next phase is milling and paving of the runway. This process is similar to what you see during repaving on the interstate. This project is going to take a least one year, and the runway will be shut down nightly, with the exceptions of emergency landings and helicopters.
Marshall School of Aviation – Construction on the Marshall University School of Aviation will begin soon. Marshall University will have several facilities near Capital Jet Center, including classroom hangar space and FAA-required laboratories and computer facilities. The flight school will offer a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences and an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance.
It is an exciting time at Yeager Airport. There are even more construction projects in the works, including the pre-security restaurant, and we will talk more about those when they are closer to getting started. We love seeing more of you taking off from CRW. We are doing everything we can to make you feel comfortable. We will see you soon!
