GREENVILLE: MUNICIPAL AIRPORT RECEIVES $4M FOR RUNWAY WORK

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded $4.15 million to the town for its runway project at the municipal airport. The town had been seeking funds for the project since early 2004, but officials thought they were going to receive only $1.6 million from the FAA, Town Manager John Simko said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “We’ve waited a long time for this and we’re very excited to move ahead with this project,” Simko said. The municipal airport, which services 4,800 to 5,000 takeoffs and landings a year, will not be expanded, but the main runway will be upgraded and numerous safety improvements will be made. The project involves raising the main runway by 7 feet on each end to help enhance the line of sight, upgrading the tower and beacon, resurfacing the main runway and a portion of the taxi area that leads to the main runway, and the installation of new lights. The $4.3 million construction project will begin at the end of the month and will run as long as weather permits this year. Construction will then resume next spring and will continue for most of the summer, Simko said. The FAA provided the town with 95 percent of the funds for the project, but the town will have to finance 2.5 percent of the construction costs, which calculates to be $100,000 to $125,000, and the state will provide the final 2.5 percent of the funds. Sargent & Sargent of Hampden was the low bidder for the project and will hold a pre-construction meeting with town officials Friday. “We certainly want everyone who uses the airport to be safe and have a positive experience in Greenville,” Simko said.