HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Michigan Aeronautics Commission has approved a grant to the West Michigan Airport Authority for runway and lighting improvements at the West Michigan Regional Airport.
The project design will cost $241,000. Ninety percent will be funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with the remainder evening funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation and the airport authority.
The design will include rehaabilitating the runway and replacing current runway lights with LEDs. The last runway update happened in 2001, according to a statement emailed to media by Greg Robinson, the airport authority’s manager.
LED lights will prolong service life and reduce operating costs, Robinson said.
“The West Michigan Regional Airport is a gateway to Holland and the surrounding area,” said airport manager Terry Boer. “The airport generates an estimated $200 million dollars in annual economic activity. The need for a safe and well-maintained runway and runway lights is essential to support the economic activity of our area businesses.”
Constructions will cost an estmate $3.6 million, with the same funding split by the FAA, MDOT and the Airport Authority as in the design funding.
West Michigan Regional Airport is classified as a Tier 1 airport that handles corporate and general aviation. The Airport Authority is comprised of Park Township and the cities of Holland and Zeeland.
