BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — Of the more than $6 billion West Virginia is expected to receive from the $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure package, about $40 million is specifically designated for the state’s airports.
In a joint op-ed published last weekend detailing the state’s share of infrastructure funding, U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito said Bridgeport’s North Central West Virginia Airport will “benefit directly from these funds.”
Airport officials have not received final word from the Federal Aviation Administration about how much money they can expect to receive, but Airport Director Rick Rock said he already has plans for the funds.
“We have a general idea, although we don’t have any confirmation in writing,” he said. “We’ve been advocating to Sen. Manchin and all of our congressional delegation the importance of the project that we have ongoing, what it will mean for West Virginia and how the economic impact will be felt throughout the region.”
That project, construction of a new terminal building for the airport, officially got underway June 25 during a groundbreaking ceremony.
Featuring Gov. Jim Justice, members of the Benedum Airport Authority and other local officials, the groundbreaking was not to mark the start of construction on a new terminal building itself, but rather the start of earth-moving work that will lead to the terminal project. The earth-moving work is referred to by airport administrators and stakeholders as the “Move the Mountain” project.
The “mountain” in question is a mound of approximately 3 million square feet of earth that must be leveled to create development-ready space for the terminal, a taxiway and a parking lot directly off W.Va. 279, along with 50 acres with direct taxiway access for commercial and industrial use.
Justice, who has repeatedly cited the economic importance of the airport in his public remarks, helped seed the project with a state-backed investment announced in August 2019.
In order to help further develop the airport, Justice announced the awarding of a $10 million grant from the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council and a $10 million loan from the state Economic Development Authority.
Speaking at the groundbreaking, Justice said he hopes the state’s investment will serve as a catalyst for further development.
“At the end of the day, the $20 million — I hope and pray — will be a drop in the bucket,” he said. “Because there’s so much potential, it’s off the chart. This airport, with the amount of potential growth in this area right here, can absolutely be the engine that takes this thing off like nobody’s business.”
Manchin and Capito have supported the terminal building project throughout its many years of development, Rock said.
“Both Sen. Manchin and Sen. Capito see how important this project is and what it can do to help build back a stronger, more resilient North Central West Virginia,” Rock said.
The earth-moving phase of the initial project has been underway for several months, he said.
“We just need to complete that, and then we’re going to begin design on the new terminal facility,” he said. “It’s crazy time to be doing any kind of projects, with supply chain issues and all these different challenges that continue to pop up, but are eyes are focused solely on the prize that is constructing a new gateway to West Virginia.”
The airport’s current terminal first opened to the public in 1966, Rock said.
“This will help get through the next 50 years,” he said. “The terminal that we have now has certainly served us well. We’ve moved hundreds of thousands of people through it over the last 10 years, but it’s time to start focusing on what the future will hold. A new modern, green, sustainable terminal is what our focus is on.”
Airport officials will remain in contact with FAA representatives to find out the final details of the infrastructure funding, Rock said.
“We’re just continuing to work with the FAA and go through the process with them,” he said. “We’ll utilize those funds to improve and maintain the key infrastructure of North Central West Virginia Airport.”