Barnesville Airport Taxiway To Be Relocated Next Spring
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The Barnesville-Bradfield Airport, 62299 Fairview Road, Barnesville, will be getting upgrades to a taxiway starting next spring.
During a recent Belmont County Commission meeting, commissioners approved various certifications that will allow the project to move forward.
Greg Batts, president of the Belmont County Regional Airport Authority, said the project will involve relocating the airport's taxiway.
He noted work on the runway was conducted in 2021. The moving of the taxiway further away from the runway is a new FAA standard, Batts said.
"That move also requires the movement of the access road," he said, adding the project will cost about $3.7 million.
"It is 100% funded by grants -- 95% FAA and 5% ODOT," he added. "So there is no local match."
Batts said now that the certifications have been approved by the commission, the project and the contractor for the job, Cast & Baker of Canonsburg, Pa., can be submitted for final approval by the FAA.
In addition to a taxiway and access road, work will also be done on the fuel area around the main building.
"It's all happening inside the fence. We think construction will begin late spring of next year," Batts added.
Commission President Jerry Echemann thanked Batts for his work at the airport.
"I'm sure it takes a lot to maintain an airport," he said.
"I told the district if they want me to continue they'll have to double my salary -- which is zero," Batts said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.
The 55-acre facility is the only publicly owned airport in Belmont County. The commission and the village of Barnesville created the Belmont County Regional Airport Authority in 2007 to oversee airport operations and maintenance.
"The Barnesville-Bradfield Airport came into existence in 1969 as a result of the work and vision of the late Gibson and John Bradfield," according to village information. "The airport now features a category B-1 runway with a width of 65 feet and a length of 4,004 feet with future plans to obtain a category B-2 designation."
The airport includes hangar space available to rent for aircraft storage.