ORANGEBURG — Orangeburg’s city-owned airport, which serves mostly private and corporate jets, has received more than $5 million in federal funds to upgrade its runway.
The project will grind off the top layer of Orangeburg Municipal Airport’s main 5,399-foot asphalt runway and repave it, which the airport’s top official said should improve drainage and reduce the risk of planes sliding when the surface is wet.
The Federal Aviation Administration funding for the $5.6 million project includes a $4.3 million Airport Improvement Program grant and $948,000 from an infrastructure grant, with the city and state together covering the remaining cost, Baker told The Post and Courier.
“What we’re going to be doing later on is expanding the airport,” said airport manager Betty Baker, who noted plans for additional hangars. “That’s our primary runway. So that will actually strengthen the runway and allow for more traffic.”
Baker said the runway was installed around 2006 and that some business jets are restricted by insurance from landing on it when the surface is wet. The upgrade will allow the airport to accommodate jets with those stricter insurance requirements, she said.
Having recently secured the funding, Baker said no timeline has been set but work could begin by early next year. With construction expected to cross over into a secondary runway, she said she expects a two-week period where the airport won’t accept any traffic
In a statement, Orangeburg Mayor Michael C. Butler called the project a “major milestone” for the airport and the city’s future economic development.
“Ensuring the safety and reliability of our airport not only supports air travel but also strengthens our local economy and positions Orangeburg as a key hub for transportation in the region,” Butler said. “Pilots, passengers, and the entire community will benefit from a safer, more durable runway for years to come.”