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Texarkana airport seeks $502,203 design for runway strengthening to accommodate wide-body aircraft
Summary
Texarkana Regional Airport requested council approval to execute a McClellan Engineering agreement for runway strengthening design costing $502,203.20, with 90% of that amount ($451,982.88) funded by the state of Arkansas and the local Texarkana, Texas match of $27,716.59 funded from FY24 capital budget.
Texarkana Regional Airport Director Paul Merlick briefed the City Council on Jan. 13, 2025, about a professional-services agreement with McClellan Engineering for design work to strengthen Runway 1/19 to accommodate wide-body aircraft. The proposed design work totals $502,203.20; Merlick said 90% ($451,982.88) would be funded from Arkansas state funds allocated to the airport and the local Texarkana, Texas match is $27,716.59 from the FY2024 capital budget.
Merlick said the state of Arkansas is providing roughly $16.8 million for runway overlay, taxiway work and taxi-lane widening; the McClellan engagement covers the design phase to support heavier/wider aircraft operations. Council members asked about backup power and the new terminal; Merlick confirmed the new terminal has a backup generator and the airfield lights have a separate generator. He also noted the FAA air-traffic control tower does not share the airport’s backup generator and was temporarily using the airport’s facilities during a recent outage.
Merlick told the council the airport is working with an aeronautical engineering firm on a hangar design intended to accommodate aircraft such as the 767 and 787 family. The briefing did not include a final council vote; Merlick indicated funds are available in the airport’s FY24 capital budget for the local match.
