Accomack Board of Supervisors Approves Airport Turnaround Construction Project

Accomack County is one step closer to improving operations at its local airport.

At the Accomack County Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday the board approved to accept just over $63,000 from the Virginia Department of Aviation  to help fund Phase 2 of the Airport Runway 2-1 Turnaround Construction Project. The project includes building a turnaround area — known as a “jug handle” — at the north end of the runway. This addition will allow aircraft to wait safely outside the runway zone before takeoff and help clear the active runway when no parallel taxiway is available.

The turnaround has already been approved by the Board of Supervisors and is included in next year’s capital budget. A local match of up to $15,380 will be covered in part by the Airport’s Operating Budget.

Meanwhile, the County is also seeking a much larger federal grant — over $1.46 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. Because that amount triggers a budget amendment over 1% of the County’s expected expenditures, a public hearing is required.

Supervisor Robert Crockett moved that the Board accept the Virginia Department of Aviation grant and to schedule a public hearing.

That hearing is scheduled for the Board’s next regular meeting on August 20th.

Officials emphasize that the total County contribution would still not exceed $15,380 — just 1% of the project’s total cost.