Published: June 15, 2009 09:24 pm      

Airport secures funding

Work on 5,000-foot runway to begin in July.

By KEVIN SMITH

PHAROS-TRIBUNE

The Logansport-Cass County Airport will soon have the capacity for larger aircraft after securing funds for a runway extension.

The airport’s existing 4,480-foot runway and taxiway will be extended to 5,001 feet.

The $2.2 million project is 95 percent funded by the Federal Aviation Administration and complements the airport’s new hangar and operations center completed this year at an overall cost of $1.38 million.

The remaining five percent of funds for the runway are from the state of Indiana and the Logansport Cass County Airport Authority.

Airport Manager Tim Dalton said that by extending the runway, existing users such as Tyson would no longer be diverted to Lafayette or Kokomo in the event of bad weather.

“The runway extension will open the door to a lot more activity,” Dalton said. “It will improve safety margins, which might convince many who refuse to land here now to do so.”

Dalton confirmed that work on the runway was set to begin on July 6 and should be finished by Nov. 1. For the safety of workers, he said, the runway will be reduced to 3,800 feet during construction, a move that will temporarily impact the type of aircraft the airport will be able to accommodate.

He added that the extension plans will also look to address long-standing drainage problems around the airport by installing new drains to divert water from suspect areas.

While addressing the issue, Dalton admitted that the problems were not likely to be entirely solved because of the low-lying ground surrounding the airport.

“It will be improved, but if you look to the example of two to three weeks ago, we had 6 inches of water standing,” Dalton said. “When we have heavy rain, it is going to happen. How far it goes to rectifying the issue and moving the water out we will have to wait and see.”

For the runway to be extended, 50E, or Kokomo Pike, will be closed. To accommodate extra traffic, the grant will also cover the costs of widening the intersection at 400S and 150E.

Jeff Smith, project coordinator for the Cass County Highway Department, said during Monday’s commissioners’ meeting that the intersection would become a T intersection with 400S having the right of way.

The airport is also consulting with the planning department about language changes to the airport overlay district, which regulates items such as the height of structures in the vicinity of the airport.

The Logansport Planning Commission issued a positive recommendation to a proposed update to the regulations at its meeting last week. The updates include requiring that the airport authority board review any new construction projects in the vicinity of the airport, including the Logan-Cass Industrial Park.

Planning director Stan Williams said the updates were consistent with state standards for airport locations and aviation safety requirements, but he said that the rulings would not effect a developer.

“It gives the airport authority certain authority to review developments,” Williams said. “... the applicant will not experience any further delays or requirements in their application.”

The Logansport City Council will consider the proposed language changes at its next meeting on July 6.

Skip Kuker, president of the Logansport Cass County Economic Development Foundation, said he fully supported the runway extension from a personal and economic development standpoint.

As a licensed commercial pilot, he said a 5,000-foot runway is the standard that pilots look for. If Logansport has that capability, he said, larger planes will not have to land further away, which adds to the community’s amenities as a potential location for development.

Dalton agreed. He said the airport authority had worked hard to secure funding for the runway extension over the past few years.

“The runway extension is a significant benefit for the airport and a significant improvement for the community and its opportunities for economic development,” he said. “It provides a substantial improvement to the area’s air transportation capabilities.”

• Kevin Smith is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5148 or kevin.smith@pharostribune.com