Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aviation Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Airport warns FAA may shorten usable runway unless county addresses 100 East safety issue; commissioners discuss underpass options
Summary
Nick King of the Warsaw airport told commissioners that a stretch of 100 East sits inside the runway safety area for the East–West runway; the FAA could require removal of runway length unless the county pursues a costly underpass/bridge solution estimated at $13–20 million or reroutes traffic. Commissioners reaffirmed prior financial support and discussed next steps.
Nick King, representing the City of Warsaw airport, updated commissioners on airport operations and capital projects and raised an urgent safety issue: a segment of 100 East lies inside the runway safety area for the east–west runway. King said FAA guidance could force a reduction in usable runway length unless the county and city implement an engineering solution, such as an underpass or tunnel, or reroute the road.
"100 East is inside of the runway safety area of our East West Runway... If we do not remove that road... they will actually remove a minimum of thousand feet of runway... It could be up to 1,500 feet of physical asphalt," King said, warning that losing that length could prevent jets from operating at the airport. He described a proposed underpass (a bridged section) that could preserve the runway but said cost estimates range from roughly $13 million to $20 million without a funded study.
Commissioners discussed engineering, stormwater, and traffic concerns and signaled willingness to continue pursuing options; one commissioner suggested designating previously discussed local funding toward planning for an underpass. Airport and county staff said they will continue coordination with NDOT and FAA, pursue further engineering study and seek funding options before the FAA sets a formal deadline or takes action.
