Blue Grass Airport Receives $11.08 Million in Federal Funding for Runway Safety Area Improvements

Lexington, KY - U.S. Senator Jim Bunning has announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded more than $11.08 million in federal funding to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board.

The funds provided by this grant will continue the process of bringing Blue Grass Airport into compliance with current FAA design standards for runway 4-22 by adding 600 feet of safety area to each end of the airport’s commercial service runway. The additional length on each end of the 7,000 foot runway is intended to provide an extra margin of safety for arriving and departing aircraft.

“I was glad to help secure these funds for the Blue Grass Airport,” said Bunning. “These funds will help make Blue Grass Airport safer for the flying public and bring more jobs to Lexington.”

The monies secured by Senator Bunning will be used to fund Phase Two of the $35 million four-phase project. Phase One of the project included the relocation of a portion of Parker's Mill Road, Cave Creek and the construction of a new bridge over South Elkhorn Creek in the Runway 4 approach area. The project also included constructing a new retaining wall at the end of Runway 22, relocation of airport access roads and a portion of the Runway 4 instrument landing system. Phase Two of the project includes the construction of a large earth embankment and retaining wall at the end of Runway 4 near Parker’s Mill Road. Approximately 1.3 million cubic yards of rock and fill will be used to construct this phase.

Executive Director, Michael Gobb said, “We appreciate the efforts of Senator Bunning and the entire Kentucky delegation to secure the federal funds necessary for this very important project. This runway improvement allows Blue Grass Airport to meet current FAA runway design standards without significantly impacting our neighbors, the community or the level of local air service.”

Construction for the Runway Safety Area improvement project began in the fall of 2003 and is expected to be completed in 2007.