JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Joint Base Charleston officials conducted the inaugural flight and ribbon cutting ceremony for the reopening of runway 03/21 here Feb. 25.
Piloted by 315th Airlift Wing Commander Col. Steven Chapman, who was joined by 437th Airlift Wing Commander Col. John Wood, a Charleston C-17 lifted off on the first flight from the newly renovated runway and landed with cheers and applause from an array of special guests aboard, including local government and airport officials, civic leaders and base engineers.
In his opening remarks, Colonel Wood said the reopening was a winning moment for the entire Charleston community, followed by an echo of agreement from Colonel Chapman who cited benefits for both the Federal Aviation Administration and JB CHS military operations.
Renovation of runway 03/21 began nearly one year ago, April 9, 2009, and cost approximately $30 million. The last major construction on Charleston's runways was accomplished in 1968. The new runway is estimated to last another 50 years, representing a long-term investment for the base and civilian community as a joint-use runway.
Runway 03/21 will serve military and civilian travelers with several new improvements, such as new edge lighting, distance remaining markers and runway end indicator lights on both ends for added safety.
Besides the repaving of the runway, which transformed it from an asphalt runway into a grooved, concrete runway, it now has asphalt overruns, and 25-foot wide, asphalt shoulders. The renovations will allow larger and heavier aircraft to begin using the runway, and may result in a busier airfield overall by providing air traffic controllers with more takeoff and landing options, according to airfield management.
Airfield Manager Larry Gill also dispelled rumors that the runway was lengthened, stating it does not encroach on any new property. Its length of approximately 7,000 feet has remained the same, just slightly shorter than Charleston's main runway 15/33, approximately 9,000 feet long.
Base pavements officials said the completion of runway renovations is a welcome end to an arduous relationship previously held with runway 03/21.
Prior to the renovation, a large amount of man-hours and money were spent just to keep the runway in service, making the upkeep of the pre-renovation runway the largest vacuum of time and money for pavement projects on the base, said Rob Crossland, base pavements engineer. Runway 03/21 will now require limited maintenance for its upkeep, allowing personnel and funds to be directed to other pavement projects on the base, he said.
Other base pavements projects include a path to connect McCombs Way Jogging Trail to both Hill Boulevard and the Youth Programs Center; parking lot renovation at Building 407; and curb and gutter construction on Davis and Arthur Drive.
With the runway renovations complete, airfield management and base civil engineers are also looking at maintenance projects for runway 15/33. Just days after runway 03/21's opening, the main runway was reported to be closed for one week to undergo inspections.
Any major overhaul of runway 15/33 is not scheduled to begin until fiscal 2012.