Tulsa Riverside to see Runway 19R/1L Reconstruction Alongside 2 More Airports Set for Improvements

The Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission has approved 3 projects as a part of their Airport Construction Program, hoping to bolster the aeronautical industry of the region. 

The Commission approved a state loan for the project, first approving what will be the addition of facilities at Ardmore Municipal Airport. The funds will allow them to construct a 120’x120’ box hangar to house the airport’s growing customer base of parked aircraft, adding room for small aviation businesses and a flight school. The final tab for the hangar hits $2,168,000, and will be funded with $600,000 of state funds from the Commission with a helpful infusion of $1,568,000 from matching sponsor funds provided by the airport.

The second project lies in the Enid Woodring Regional Airport, where phase one will see the reconstruction of the airport's crosswind runway. The renewed runway will be used by local and transient general aviation traffic, allowing further growth and activity in the area. The total project cost, based on bids tendered for the project, comes to $2,429,065. It will be funded with $2,186,158 of federal grant money, with the rest taken up by state funding and sponsor matched funds to the tune of $121,453 and $121,454 respectively.

Finally, the last state grant was approved for Tulsa Riverside Airport where a number of taxiways, connectors, and a runway will see reconstruction. Several of the connecting taxiways and the primary runway, 19R/1L will see work to bring them up to meet FAA standards. The revamped surfaces will increase safety and operational efficiency at the airport, sorely needed since Tulsa Riverside remains the busiest airport in the state. More than 300 aircraft are based there, bolstering the importance of its project and its correspondingly larger monetary outlay by the Commission. The reconstruction will cost $3,331,000, of which federal grants will pay the majority with $2,997,900. Two matching boluses of funding will come from Oklahoma state grant funds and sponsor, both $166,550.

“Quality aviation infrastructure is a key component to the health and success of the state’s second largest industry, aviation and aerospace,” said State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies. “These projects that were approved today will go a long way to ensuring the airports in those communities will continue to be hubs of economic activity.” 

FMI: www.oac.ok.gov