MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Lewis County construction and development company will lead the start of the runway extension project at the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
Doss Enterprises has been awarded the first phase of the project, which has been valued at $5.7 million. The total project includes a 1,000-foot extension of the runway and building the Interstate 68 Commerce Park, which will cost an estimated $50 million.
“As we are bringing that borrow site down and flattening it that will be creating the future I-68 Commerce Park,” airport director Jonathon Vrabel said.
Vrabel noted the Federal Aviation Administration awarded the airport with a $7 million grant, in which a $750,000 match is covered by federal coronavirus relief funds.
Business at the airport is down 60% because of the coronavirus pandemic, with Vrabel noting the biggest impact has been on corporate aviation.
“We’re starting to see an uptick at the end of this month now, and we’re hoping that continues going forward,” he said. “Hopefully, the economy will start rebounding. Seeing corporate aviation grow is an indicator the economy is improving.”
The airport also offers flights to Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.