By Matthew Young, RealWV
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – In a statement released by his office Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced that Greenbrier Valley Airport will be receiving just over $8 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for the rehabilitation of runway 4/22.
“The funding announced today will boost local tourism and spur economic development throughout our great state,” Manchin said. “I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of these investments for years to come.”
Greenbrier Valley is one of four West Virginia airports to receive a total of $13,913,818 in FAA funding for renovation projects. With Greenbrier Valley awarded $8,145,000, Morgantown Municipal, Tri-State, and North Central West Virginia airports will receive $3.7 million, $1.3 million, and $657,095 respectively.
“I am pleased [the FAA] is investing more than $13.9 million to improve service, safety, and efficiency at four of our airports across West Virginia,” Manchin added.
Greenbrier Valley’s runway renovation project will be completed in two phases, with the FAA funding being awarded in the form of grants. Phase one will include physical repairs and required modifications to the runway which are necessary in order to meet FAA funding-standards. Phase two will focus on the installation of LED runway edge-lights.
To be eligible for FAA funding, the runway must have paved shoulder-areas added to either side of the landing strip for increased safety. Currently, runway 4/22 has a landing strip width of 150 feet with no shoulder-areas. Once renovations have been completed, the runway’s landing strip will be 100 feet wide, with a 25 foot paved shoulder on each side.
While speaking with RealWV Thursday, Greenbrier Valley Airport Director Martha Livesay said, “It’s a great thing for the county – it needed to be done.”
“We’re very excited,” Livesay added. “It’s a great improvement for our runway. We’re very much looking forward to getting this project completed.”
According to Livesay, the tentative start date for phase-one renovations to begin is Sept. 17.
“We look forward to growing the airport and moving forward with a lot of great projects,” Livesay added. “Hopefully a lot of really great things will be forthcoming. This is the community’s airport, and we want it to grow.”
RealWV will provide updates regarding the Greenbrier Valley Airport runway renovation project as additional information is made available.
