Runway Expansion Project Moves Forward
Runway expansion plans continue at the Warsaw Municipal Airport, but off of the bargaining table is a plan to close CR 100 East.
For well over a year the Warsaw Board of Aviation has been looking at extending the east-west runway, an option that initially explored the possibility of closing the heavily traveled road. Public meetings and the voices of local businesses such as Martin’s Supermarkets that opposed the idea, however, have seemingly put an end to any such plan.
On Tuesday, the WBA held its regular meeting and announced they are moving forward with the plan to extend the runway, which first requires power lines to the east of the airport to be lowered.
In May, the Warsaw Common Council finalized annexation of property adjacent to the airport and along CR 100 East that allowed for the project to progress. Mayor Joe Thallemer said as that time that the busy road will not be closed, but rather rerouted around a 500-foot section of runway that will be added to the east. An additional 500-foot expansion is projected for the west end of the runway.
The WBA meets the second Tuesday of every month at 5:15 p.m. in the airport. At the next meeting, conceptual designs and final costs are expected to be presented.