Airport Authority Approves Transfer Of Land To Facilitate Construction

The Metropolitan Knoxville (TN) Airport Authority has approved the expenditure of $99,116 in money from a state grant for consulting work associated with the transfer of land for a planned GA airport in Oak Ridge, TN, near the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The airport authority has been working on the plan since 2009, when they hired the consulting firm LPA Group for a feasibility study for the airport, according to Knoxvillebiz.com. The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET) had at that time asked the authority to consider several DOE sites for a potential airport. CROET is actively involved in the development and eventual sublease of DOE property at the technology park under consideration for the airport.

According to the Knoxvillebiz website, the plan is for an airport with a 5,000 foot runway to serve GA traffic up to business jets as well as commuter airliners, but not heavy commercial traffic, serving the business and technology markets in Oak Ridge. After reviewing several possible sites, the board recommended 132 acres near the technology park.

The board hopes to have a plan finished next year.

FMI: www.cityofknoxville.org/boards/aa.asp