The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission recently approved an airport construction program that will invest $342 million in federal, state and local funds across the Oklahoma Airport System over the next five years.
The five-year initiative includes 125 projects in 67 communities across Oklahoma. Projects range in size and scope from simple pavement maintenance upkeep to multi-million-dollar runway renovations and extensions, according to state aviation officials.
Some of the projects at general aviation airports include:
- Alva Taxiway Rehabilitation
- Durant Eaker Field Apron Expansion
- Enid Woodring Apron Expansion
- Guthrie/Edmond Taxiway Development Area
- Hobart Runway Rehabilitation
- Max Westheimer Air Traffic Control Tower
- Muskogee Davis Field Runway Rehabilitation
- Pauls Valley Runway Reconstruction
- Weatherford Stafford Taxiway Development Area
To see all the approved projects, go to Oklahoma.gov.
In addition to approving the five-year initiative, the commission also awarded two grants for infrastructure projects that will start construction this summer. Both projects were approved using Preserving Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) funds that the state legislature approved in the fall of 2022.
- Tulsa International Airport: A grant was approved for building a new air traffic control tower and terminal radar approach control facility. This project, with a total cost topping $111 million, will be funded through a combination of $52.5 million in federal funds, $16 million in PREP funds, and nearly $40 million in sponsor matching or other local funds.
- Ardmore Municipal Airport Grant: The commission also approved $2.2 million to build the south air cargo apron at Ardmore Municipal Airport.
One Airport To Close
In other business, the commission decided to close Lake Texoma State Park Airport (F31) after receiving a request from the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
“After evaluating several options and discussing the best course of action for the overall airport system, the commission voted to initiate the process to close and remove the airport from the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS),” state aviation officials said.
For more information: Oklahoma.gov/Aerospace
Sorry to see Lake Texoma State Park Airport (F31) close. But after they tore down the hotel and restaurant (Lodge) about 15 years ago the place has seen less and less traffic.
Once Oklahoma had 4 or 5 state parks with airfields, now most are gone. Sad they could not sell the airstrip to one of the major developers building houses nearby, there seems to be a lot of new homes going up. Sorry the state and the developers saw more value in something other than an airport.