Officials at Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Kentucky, were joined Aug. 4 by Governor Steve Beshear, Mayor Jim Newberry, Kentucky Department of Aviation Commissioner R. Winn Turney, and the FAA’s Doug Martin for a ribbon cutting ceremony of the airport’s new crosswind runway, Runway 9-27. This new 4,000-foot runway will be used by general aviation aircraft and will enhance safety during crosswind conditions, officials said.
“Not only will this new runway enhance aircraft safety at Blue Grass Airport, it will also benefit our state’s economic development efforts,” said Beshear. “Improvements that enhance the safety and efficiency of air travel for business purposes are an important part of supporting our state’s economic development efforts.”
This new runway replaces the airport’s previous 3,500-foot runway, Runway 8-26. The airport’s 2004 Master Plan Update identified a need to rehabilitate and reconstruct the pavement for Runway 8-26 and recommended instead to replace the previous runway and realign it to a 9-27 orientation. This relocation allows for more efficient land use and facility development. General aviation facilities were severely constrained and had insufficient space, airport officials said, noting the relocation will provide ample space for much needed aircraft parking and hangar development.
Funding for this $27 million runway relocation was provided by the FAA, Kentucky Department of Aviation and Blue Grass Airport. It was one component of more than $66 million worth of airport improvement projects that has been undertaken in the last two years.
“General aviation activity accounts for approximately 65% of the total operations at Blue Grass Airport,” said Bobby Owens, chairman of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board. “This new runway is critical to allowing us to maintain the capability of landing lighter corporate and private aircraft during crosswind conditions.”
For more information: BlueGrassAirport.com
