The McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport Authority Board of Commissioners made a decision not to delay a runway reconstruction rehabilitation project during their monthly meeting at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, Monday.
The reconstruction of the 6,000-foot long runway has been in the planning stages for five years, at an estimated cost of between $14 million- and $17 million, using state, federal and local funding.
“The project includes the runway, new markings and paint, LED runway lighting, newly graded safety areas, new runway and taxiway signage and new precision approach-path indicator lights,” Steve Smith said, “This is the start of a new vision for the airport including a terminal rehabilitation plan which includes, a new terminal area with new hangars, and a new automobile parking lot with electric charging stations.
“Also being considered is a new airport name change, which will continue to incorporate the McKellar-Sipes name, and a new promotional video (which) will be shot in July.”
Smith, the executive director at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, said the Airport Authority staff has been working to acquire a new jet charter service.
But for Smith, it’s first things first.
“No. 1 is to complete the runway project this calendar year, because the funding is in place, and in light of industrial development in West Tennessee – the faster this airport reopens.”
Smith said the timeline for completion of the project is approximately six months.
“I’d like to think we could do it in four,” Smith said, “The airport will not close completely – the airport will continue to handle air traffic.”
Kyle Spurgeon, the president of the Greater Jackson Chamber, said McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport has never seen the amount of attention it is seeing.
“There will be billions and billions (more invested) thousands of jobs,” Spurgeon said, “Whatever you (Airport Authority Board) do, make sure everything – terminal, runway, gets all the attention.
“This airport is receiving more interest than at any time in its history. We must make it an even better front door to our region for the many people who will see this airport as their first, and sometimes only, impression of our community.
“It is our regions front door to people and companies who will be investing millions and billions of dollars in West Tennessee.”
(PHOTO: Steve Smith, executive director, McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, left, with Bob Frankland, member of the The McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport Authority Board of Commissioners)
