West Virginia Executive Spring 2021 June 2021 | Page 122

Regional Focus

COMPILED BY SAMANTHA CART
Morgantown Municipal Airport Breaks Ground at Runway Extension Site
City leaders at the groundbreaking ceremony held in March .
The Morgantown Municipal Airport ( MGW ) and the City of Morgantown recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Runway 18-36 Extension Project , marking the beginning of what is anticipated to be a fiveyear , multi-phase project . Phase 1 construction began in March and includes land clearing and embankment construction . Phase 2 construction is planned to begin this fall .
“ I am very excited to begin construction of this long-awaited runway extension ,” says Jonathon Vrabel , director of MGW . “ This extension will provide airport users with a longer runway with enhanced safety , allowing corporations with business in Morgantown the ability to use more efficient aircraft than they do today .”
The Runway 18-36 Extension Project will modernize the airport ’ s facilities to enhance current operations , recruit new businesses and improve airport safety . The existing runway at MGW is currently the shortest at a commercial service airport in West Virginia . The project will add 1,001 feet to the existing runway , extending the total length to 6,200 feet . The total cost for the runway extension is approximately $ 40 million .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE