Mar 17, 2018 2 min read

The Washington County commissioners have approved just over $1 million worth of engineering work related to projects at the county airport, including future expansion.

Planning and engineering work for the regrading of a hillside on what’s known as the airport’s north side development will be done by CDI-Infrastructure LLC, doing business as L.R. Kimball, which will be paid $889,648.

The money will come from a combination of a PennDOT Bureau of Aviation capital grant and the Local Share Account of gambling proceeds from The Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

William McGowen, executive director of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, which oversees operations at the airport, said the earth-moving will create more level, usable land that will be pad-ready for the construction of four hangars. 

Kimball also will design the renovation of the former Air Charter Services hangar, which the county purchased last year with plans to eventually lease it.

Upgrades include energy-efficient lighting, a new floor and interior doors, and painting and new carpet in the office. Cracks in the hangar’s apron are to be sealed.

The same firm will be paid $81,346 from Act 13 natural gas well proceeds to perform design work on the county-owned Airport Road. 

In April, the Federal Aviation Administration intends to update the localizer and distance-measuring equipment, which are part of the airport’s instrument landing system.

“We’re working with the FAA to coordinate that so it’s down for a minimal amount of time,” McGowen said. “That won’t shut down the airport. The GPS approaches will still be up.”