Sun, Jan 13, 2008
Construction To Begin In Spring
The mayor of St. George, UT was reportedly overjoyed to received
confirmation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s $90
million pledge for construction of a new airport.
"This has been a long time in anticipation," Mayor Daniel
McArthur told the Salt Lake Tribune. "We started this process in
earnest in 1994."
As ANN reported last May, the
project was delayed for some time by a court challenge and
environmental impact study regarding noise over southern
Utah’s national parks. Utah Congressman Jim Matheson asked
the FAA to authorize the funding to keep the project on track,
while an agency noise study cleared the way for construction.
The Grand Canyon Trust environmental group originally accused
the FAA of not taking the noise impact to nearby Zion National Park
into account when pushing for the airport. The situation was
rectified, however, when officials drew up a noise-abatement
approach path designed to keep airplanes west of the park, and as
high as possible. The Grand Canyon Trust signed off on the FAA's
decision.
The new airport will be located on about 1,300 acres southeast
of town, roughly five miles south of the current field. The new St.
George airport will sport a 9300’ runway capable of handling
large jet traffic. City leaders say southwestern Utah is booming,
and an expanded airport is critical to support continued
growth.
With an expected cost of $170 million, more funds will be raised
through redevelopment of the existing airport -- atop the most
scenic bluff in town -- into mixed residential, green space and
commercial uses.
ANN contacted airport officials Saturday to inquire how the
relocation of tenant aircraft in the current airport's 41 general
aviation hangars will be handled. Those calls weren't returned at
press time (hey, it's the weekend, after all) but we'll pass along
those details as they become available.
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