THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996 TAG: 9609010076
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 35 lines
The U.S. Coast Guard plans to spend about $5 million to repair the main east-west runway and several taxiways at the air station south of Elizabeth City.
In Washington, a Coast Guard spokesman said Friday night it will not improve a smaller north-south runway that leads to the Elizabeth City municipal air terminal on the south side of the Coast Guard base.
``Lack of operational need'' led to the decision not to improve the smaller runway to the civilian airport terminal and hangars, the spokesman said.
``Because of deterioration, this runway is presently operational for aircraft under 12,500-pounds,'' the spokesman added.
``If it is deemed unsafe if will be closed.''
The short runway is rarely used by the Coast Guard but is often needed by smaller civilian aircraft taxiing to the Elizabeth City airport hangar area. The Washington Coast Guard spokesman said the $5 million civilian contract for the main runway repairs expires Oct. 29. Earlier a $1.1 million estimate was given for repairs to the smaller runway.
The Coast Guard is negotiating to keep the price at $1.1 million until the spring of 1997, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Pat Philbin in Washington.
``If successful this would allow local authorities more time to obtain funding from other sources if desired,'' Philbin said.
The airport runways ``were never meant to last this long,'' Philbin said. ``The runways were built on poor underlying soil in 1939 during the build up for World War II.''
Repairs to the main runway and the taxiways will ``assure continued access to the municipal terminal at Elizabeth City Airport,'' he said. by CNB