Manchester City Council Holding Work Session to Discuss Airport

The Manchester City Council is holding a work session tonight to discuss the airport.

Last month, the Manchester City Council on a 3-2 vote tabled a new plan to update the Manchester Municipal Airport.

Earlier this year, the council, on a 3 to 2 vote, rejected plans to move forward with attempts to acquire land to expand the airport runway. Now, the City has proposed a new plan that would no longer include acquiring land for an expansion, but instead, resurfacing the airport runway.

The City says the runway is due to be resurfaced, with safety a main concern. The proposed project would consist of milling the existing runway, placing an asphalt overlay, installing edge drain tiles and repainting the runway markings. The project will not increase the length or width of the existing runway. Resurfacing the runway would extend its life for another twenty years. 

The estimated cost for this project is one-point-one eight million dollars. Ninety-percent of the project would be covered by federal funds, with the City’s share at approximately $85,000.

Tonight, the Manchester City Council will hold a joint work session with the airport committee to discuss concerns and findings regarding airport operations, as well as review the proposed plan and possible next steps. The work session begins at 5 pm at the City Council Chambers. It is open to the public.