Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport received bids on the preparatory phase of its future Runway 21 Extension Project last week.  Ten bids were received, and the apparent low bidder is Faulconer Construction Company, Inc. of Charlottesville, Virginia. 

This project, to be constructed on existing airport property, includes the relocation/improvement of the airport's internal perimeter road, including associated excavation and embankment placement, wetlands mitigation, and installation of erosion & sediment control measures.  The bid process has been timed to take advantage of the annual allocation of Virginia Department of Aviation airport discretionary funds, which will be considered in late August.  Assuming funding is received, this first phase of work could commence as soon as October 2008.  All ten bids are less than the engineer's estimate, with the low bid creating a savings of $4.1 million for this phase of improvements.  The Albemarle County Planning Commission will consider this project at its regularly scheduled meeting on July 22, 2008.

"Now more than ever, it is crucial for this community to consider airfield improvements in order to secure existing commercial air service," commented Executive Director Barbara Hutchinson.  "Due to the area's moderate temperatures and higher humidity and the associated economic impact on airlines, the airport and its users; it is necessary to consider the runway extension despite the industry crisis".  "Regional jets must take lower fuel loads or decrease passengers in order to take off during periods of high density altitude, while the existing runway length frequently plagues long haul athletic charters that cannot take off fully fueled, sending revenue out of the community and out of the Commonwealth", she further stated.  Mrs. Hutchinson concluded "A unique window of opportunity has presented itself with the availability of funding combined with favorable construction bids".

Press Release Issued July 20, 2008