City Receives $1.9 Million for Runway Extension Project from the U.S. Department of Transportation

On July 1, Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced that the City of Morgantown will receive $1,902,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the runway extension project at the Morgantown Municipal Airport. The project received additional funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

The funds will be used for the design and property acquisition of the project.

“I can’t thank Sen. Capito and Manchin enough for their support in securing these funds,” said Airport Director Jon Vrabel. “Appropriation of these funds is critical to keep the project moving forward so we can start this fall.”

After the design and property acquisition phase is complete, the city will issue a bid announcement for the construction phase. The bid announcement is expected to be released in late summer or early fall with construction anticipated to by the end of the year.

The current length of the runway is 5,199 feet, making it the shortest runway for commercial carrier airports in the state. The extension will add 1,001 feet to the runway and will enhance and modernize the airport’s facilities to help it maintain current operations, recruit new businesses and improve safety at the airport.

The project is estimated to take at least five years to complete at an estimated cost of $50 million. A majority of the funding for the design and construction of the project will come from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The remaining cost will be funded by the City of Morgantown and the State of West Virginia.