MANSFIELD, Ohio — The Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport will soon undergo some major improvements.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that more than $6.5 million in federal funding will be awarded to the Lahm Airport to be used for the demolition of Taxiway C to improve safety and efficiency, reconstruction of 6,795 feet of runway, and correction and replacement of airfield signs that do not currently meet FAA standards, according to a press release.
The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded the funding.
Mark Daugherty, airport manager, explained that the funds will go toward the rehabilitation of Runway 5-23, a non-precision runway that’s 6,800 feet long and 150 feet wide with paved overruns.
Funds will be used to remove Taxiway C, also known as “Taxiway Charlie,” to meet FAA standards. The taxiway, which intersects with two runways, will be put back to grass, he said.
“The third thing is going to be the rehabilitation of Taxiway Delta. We’ve got a piece of pavement between the runway we’re rehabilitating and the existing main parallel taxiway with the runways that is just in really bad shape. It probably needs to be closed–it’s really that bad,” he said.
Because of the amount the federal government is giving to fund this project, the City of Mansfield is required to come up with a 10 percent match, said Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker. Fortunately, “We have already in the bank enough for our match, so there’s nothing else that we have to come up with,” he said.
Daugherty said the hope is to have this project completed by the end of the year.
Also on the list of improvements is a renovation of the terminal building’s interior.
Theaker explained that a donation in the amount of $50,000 from an anonymous donor and approximately $159,000 generated from airport grounds timber will go toward the renovation. “The FAA says that if you generate revenue on airport grounds, it has to stay on airport grounds,” he said in reference to the timber.
MKC Associates created the design for the renovation.
Ken Stocksdale, building maintenance operations supervisor for the city, said the goal is “to make it a place where you want to spend some time, versus just running through and leaving.”
As part of the design, new flooring will be installed, the ceiling will be replaced, the restrooms will be upgraded and LED lighting will be placed throughout the building for energy efficiency. Also, sections of the walls will be removed to open up the area.
The design also includes adding a kitchenette and remodeling the pilot’s lounge to better accommodate those who visit the airport.
Daugherty noted that pilots could sometimes stay at the airport 8 to 10 hours. “It’s a place for aircrew to rest,” he said.
Stocksdale noted, “We’re going to strategically place historical things on the walls so that we maintain some of the history.”
When the building was built in 1985, “It was completed as a commercial airline, a small commercial airline,” said Stocksdale.
He added, “This will be the first facelift the thing has gotten since it’s been built.”
Officials view the renovation as a way to encourage an FBO to set up shop in the terminal.
“An FBO is a fixed-base operator, which is the individual or company that provides fuel and service for the planes and other services,” said Theaker. “In order to appeal and bring somebody here, or use the existing FBO that we’ve got (his contract expired), and in order to entice him or other companies to look at this, it was decided to renovate this inside.”
James P. Finnegan Construction in Shelby was awarded the bid for the reconstruction with a low bid of $186,550. This is the same company that built the terminal in 1985.
Stocksdale said they hope the renovations will begin the Monday following the Fourth of July, after Mansfield Lahm Airport Day. The project should be completed in 90 days, Theaker said.
“They’ve always said Mansfield’s airport is a sleeping giant,” said Stocksdale. “This is an opportunity to help it wake up a little bit for the visitors — to make coming to Mansfield via air more pleasant.”
