City Council Votes Unanimously To Support The Project

The Oak Ridge City Council recently voted 7-0 to support a project that could result in a new GA airport being built on the west side of the city. The site identified for the new airport is at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson told the council that The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, which would own and operate the Oak Ridge airport, has completed a preliminary study and is ready to move on to the next phase of the project. He said that phase would include more detailed designs, noise measurements, and other items, including possible easements on property controlled by Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee (CROET).

The OakRidger.com reports that the next phase will be done in concert with the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission. Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan commented on the unusual aspect of the project. "This is a partnership with the state, federal government, CROET, and the Knoxville Airport Authority. That doesn't happen very often," he said.

If all the pieces, including funding, fall into place, the airport is slated to be open in 2018.

FMI: www.oakridgetenn.org