Port Columbus Gets Environmental Clearance For Runway Relocation

COLUMBUS, Ohio —The future of Port Columbus International Airport calls for two terminals, with both of the airport’s runways capable of simultaneous take-offs and landings. The plan for terminal expansion is still more than a decade away, but the Federal Aviation Administration gave environmental approval last week to a plan that would relocate the south runway a distance of 700 feet.

The plans are contingent upon securing $150 million in funding to finish the relocation project. Port Columbus has applied for at least $75 million in federal funding, but with the project not considered eligible for stimulus funding, airport employees will sweat out the next 45 days as they await a decision.

If the federal government portion of funding comes through, the airport plans to charge passengers a facility fee to pay for the balance of the project. Design work would be completed next year and construction would begin in 2011.

As part of the relocation, 36 homes west of the new runway site would be purchased and removed, with residents relocated, including John Bowen who has lived near the airport on East 13th Avenue for 12 years. 

“We know all the neighbors, they come over, we barbecue all the time. It’s just a family thing, this neighborhood,“ Bowen said.“I don’t have no problem with the growth and all that, I don’t have a problem, it just happens to be in my neighborhood, that’s the bad thing about it.“ 

The home Bowen rents is in what is called the runway protection zone, an area the FAA requires be free of obstacles, such as homes. Port Columbus is also offering sound buffering, in the form of air conditioning and insulation, to dozens of other nearby homes that are close, but not in the protection zone.

The relocation of the south runway would create enough space to allow takeoffs and landings on both airport runways simultaneously, something not possible now.  It will also widen the space between the runways, to allow construction of a second terminal in the future. 

“We won’t build that terminal building before we need it, but we now have the land available with this runway relocation to build it,“ said David Whitaker, vice president of business development at Port Columbus. “When Skybus was at its peak the need for a second terminal building was in the mid to late teens. Now that they’re out of the picture and just forecasting today’s activity in the future, it looks like closer to the 20s.“

Whitaker says the airport’s long-term plan calls for $1 billion in improvements as it expands to meet demand.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video