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.

FMI: www.sgcity.org/airport