Airport runway project begins June 14

DAVENPORT – The $4.5 million airport safety improvement project for the Municipal Airport (68s) here is slated to begin June 14 and will include reconstruction of Runway 5/23 and the addition of a new runway lighting system and PAPIs.

The runway project and an additional taxilane has been awarded to Murphy Bros/Shamrock paving. Century West Engineering is the project design and construction management firm.

“Modernizing our infrastructure is a top priority for the airport, and these improvements are significant upgrades in the safety of our facilities,” city administrator Steve Goemmel said.

The current runway, which was last updated in 2009, does not meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and is not adequate for use by the airport’s evolving fleet mix which includes larger and heavier aircraft compared to when the runway was designed.

The planned safety upgrades and improvements include shifting the runway to the west to retain the Runway Protection Zone on airport property, widening the runway to 60 feet and extending runway 5/23 by 500 feet—for a total length of 3,260 feet. After construction, the runway will be identified as 6/24 due to magnetic changes in the earth.

The new precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lighting system will be positioned beside the runway to provide pilots with a visual indicator of their aircraft’s position relative to the correct glidepath for the runway. An additional taxilane will also be built along with the runway project to allow access to the new runway threshold for displaced commercial users of the airport due to the construction.

These improvements will be financed with an Airport Improvement Program grant from the FAA. City taxes will not be used for its construction.

Davenport Municipal Airport was founded in 1945 and is owned by the city. The airport’s main gate is located at 200 South Gunning Road and is home to about 17 aircraft. The airport has hosted antique airplane fly-ins and held National Aerobatic trainings. Currently, the airport has more than 500,000 square feet available for light industrial and commercial hangar development.