CHARLESTON, W.Va. — All 450,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed off Keystone Drive in Charleston more than two years after a massive hillside collapsed at Yeager Airport’s overrun area.
Yeager Airport Assistant Director Nick Keller updated board members during a Wednesday meeting.
“We’re very glad that the clean up on Keystone Drive has been complete and we’re ready to move on with a rebuild of the runway safety area — something that will increase safety and reduce impacts to aircraft operators,” Keller said.
The airport’s runway extension project includes lengthening the runway by 1,200 feet and creating safety zones on either end. The runway would extend into Coonskin Park in Charleston — giving the airport an additional 8,000 feet of usable runway.
The project would cost around $125 million. Keller said the airport is seeking around $350 million in federal funds for all infrastructure projects.
Last month, the airport submitted its master plan to the Trump Administration in hopes of getting on the President’s list of High Priority Infrastructure Projects nationwide.
“There’s talk of some type of infrastructure bill being put in Congress this year, so we’re trying to get the Trump Administration to support the Yeager Airport project,” Keller said.
The funds are critical, Keller said, because Yeager simply can’t afford it.
“If we don’t get FAA help in doing this, it just won’t be achievable,” he said. “There’s just no way we could pay for it. A runway extension could cost over $100 million. There’s no way we can finance that.”
Airport officials plan to meet FAA officials and West Virginia’s congressional delegation during trips to Washington, D.C. next month.
Currently, Keller said crews are conducting a runway length study to determine how long the runway needs to be.
The Yeager Airport board is expected to vote on the runway extension plan this summer when all tests are complete.