Discussion began on an expansion of the main runway at the Kenosha Regional Airport on Highway 158 back in 1993.
26 years later---that idea will be realized.
Work on the project at the 61-year-old, city-owned, general and corporate aviation airport could start this year. The new runway should be viable in late 2020 or early 2021.
Airport Director Corey Reed said that the recent FAA finding that rebuilding and extending the main runway would have “no significant environmental impact” is allowing the airport to apply for federal funding for the plan.
The 32-year-old concrete runway will be rebuilt this year using the federal funding---which would cover 90 percent of the project costs. The runway extension would follow---likely in 2020. The balance of the costs would be split equally by the state and the city.
On a this past weekend’s “Community Matters” program on WGTD-HD--- Reed told host Jayne Herring the extension of the main runway serves two priorities. "What everybody wants is more length on the runway. My tenants cannot leave for destinations fully loaded, fully fueled. Alot of times they have to have to top off their tanks or pick up people, so it is inconvenient." Reed continues "There's ice and snow on the runways and we can't use salt because it it is too corrosive; the extra distance will allow us to stop under some sort of conditions."
Reed said the new, longer main runway will be more amenable to the needs of major international companies---like Foxconn and Haribo---that are moving into the area.
The new runway won't mean an expansion of the airport's perimeter.
The full interview with Reed is archived here
