Chesterfield County Airport details runway-extension plan and ramp projects, with major work slated for 2026–2028

An airport representative updated county board members on capital projects at Chesterfield County Airport, saying the airport is designing a runway extension and advancing ramp and tenanting work that the presenter said will proceed in phased stages over the next several years.

The presenter said, “We currently sit at 5,500 feet with the plan to extend an additional 800 feet to 6,300 feet.” He described seven easements covering eight property owners that need work to maintain the runway safety area and said utility relocations (notably pipelines and lines identified as owned by TC Energy/Columbia Gas, Verizon and Virginia Power) will be part of early phases. He added that the airport has “issued to Columbia Gas a check” and expects preliminary utility work to begin in spring with grading and site work in 2027 and major paving and instrument-system changes scheduled for 2028.

The presenter warned the extension will affect instrument approaches, saying construction will “take our instrument landing system” out of service during parts of the work and that staff are already communicating expected impacts to tenants. He emphasized phased timing so operations and tenants can plan for disruptions.

On ramp development, the presenter said the north ramp is fully occupied: four hangar sites are developed with tenants that include the Virginia State Police and air-ambulance operators, a recently completed pad is seeking a tenant, and Vantage Aviation owns the largest hangar on the field. Regarding the south ramp, the presenter said a winter stop-work pause is planned because construction will impact the ILS glide-slope critical area; the south-ramp project is state funded and expected to be complete in 2027.

A 16-acre non-aeronautical parcel at White Pine and Iron Bridge Road was described as approved for a land lease under an FAA land-release; the presenter said FAA self-sufficiency rules require lease revenue to remain at the airport and that the county is working with the EDA to find developers.

The presenter said utility relocations and phasing are necessary to meet safety-area grades and keep the runway on airport property; he urged board members that tenants will be notified well in advance of disruptive work. The board offered brief praise and no formal action was taken during the update.

Next procedural steps described: utility relocation and easement work beginning in spring, grading/site work in 2027 and the largest paving and instrument changes planned for 2028.