$7.5 Million Replaces 4 Out-of-Spec Taxiways at Tulsa Reliever

Tulsa Riverside Airport of Oklahoma has completed a small ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of a newly realigned Taxiway Alpha, correcting a collection of non-standard, angled taxiways.

The project ran about $7.5 million in all, funded largely by a Federal Aviation Administration grant of $6.8 million. The rest was scraped together with $381,000 from an Oklahoma Department of Aerospace & Aeronautics (ODAA) Grant of $381,028, and the rest form the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) for $423,928. With construction complete, all four connector taxiways between Runway 01L/19R and Taxiway Alpha meet standard specifications, connecting at perpendicular angles for maximum visibility on either side.

The project is celebrated for that little safety boost, since Tulsa Riverside is home to a good deal of local flight training. Operations there were proud of being able to retain so much functionality throughout the year. Phase one began in the Spring of 2023, with the final phase capped off in May of 2024. Throughout the work, the primary runways were closed for about 5 months in total. Management added that "users could always take off and land at RVS throughout the entire project," but admitted that "having the airfield fully open for normal operations again is a relief for airport users."

“'This project not only enhances safety for all our pilots and student pilots, but also aligns our infrastructure with the highest standards set by the FAA,” said Austin Wheeler, Airport Manager at Tulsa Riverside Airport. “We are grateful for the patience and support of our community throughout the two construction phases. With the airfield now fully operational, we look forward to continuing to provide a top-tier training environment and aviation hub for the region.”

“Tulsa Riverside Airport stands as a hub for flight training and aviation businesses for the Tulsa region, fueling the state’s economic activity with three runways, two hundred commercial and private hangars, and over 500 based aircraft,” said Executive Director Grayson Ardies. He oversees the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, one of the granters of the last fraction of funding needed to seal the deal. “The Riverside Airport also holds the mark as the state’s busiest airport and our agency is proud to support this critical safety project by investing both federal and state funds to support the major realignment of the parallel taxiway system. Oklahoma’s airport system plays a crucial role in supporting the aviation supply chain and by funding projects such as the one we are celebrating today we are investing in our state’s economic progress.”

FMI: www.oklahoma.gov