Columbia Regional Airport - Taxiway Alpha Reconstruction Project Completed

Columbia Public Works and Columbia Regional Airport are pleased to announce the reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha, the main runway taxiway, was completed and reopened to ground traffic on Friday, July 19 at 3:00 PM.

The existing taxiway was built in 1968 when Columbia Regional Airport moved to the Elkhurst location. Repairs have taken place over the past 40 years, however the taxiway subsurface suffered from ground water erosion issues for a number of years which caused severe deterioration of the taxiway. During design and construction, the ground water issues were addressed by adding sub-surface drainage.

As part of the airports master plan, taxiway Alpha reconstruction was identified as one of the first steps to several airfield improvements which will eventually culminate in the lengthening of the main runway, and reconstruction and lengthening of the crosswinds runway.

The projects total cost was budgeted at 6.3 million dollars; $685,000 in design costs and $5.5 million in construction costs. FAA matching grants paid for 95% of the total cost. ESS was the successful bidder and began the project in July of 2012.

The concrete excavated from the previous taxiway (approximately 80,000 tons) was ground and used as sub-surface for the overflow parking area on the west side of Airport Drive. The remaining ground concrete will be stockpiled and used as sub-surface fill for future projects at the Airport.