Morris airport preparing for runway extension

MORRIS Preliminary work continues at the Morris Municipal Airport in preparations for its runway extension.

The Morris City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved contracting with Homer Tree Service for removal of 18 trees on airport property for $5,400. Airport liability insurance also was bought from Global Aerospace for just less than $13,800, the lowest bid.

The city plans to extend its north-south runway and taxiway to the north by 500 feet, making it 5,500 feet, to accommodate larger aircraft. Precision lights to make landings easier also is planned. After the north-south runway is extended, the project includes widening the runway from 75 to 100 feet and overlaying it with more asphalt to accommodate heavier aircraft.

The runway extension is the first of many improvement projects scheduled in the next five years aimed at making the airport more compatible for corporate jets.

The tree removal approved Tuesday will clear more space for the required runway protection zone, which is a larger area required with the increased length in the future runway, Mayor Richard Kopczick said Wednesday.

Were going to an instrument approach and a larger runway, and the trees pierce the approach pattern, he continued.

More than 30 trees already been have removed; Tuesdays action by the council approved working with Homer Tree Service to remove 18 more.

Were happy to have Whitman Road done and the new bridge, Alderman Julian Houston, chairman of the Airport Committee, said Wednesday.

As part of this project, the city had to obtain numerous parcels of land to accommodate the expansion. Whitman Road had to extended west of Ashley Road with a bridge and roadway, to provide residences on that road new access since the airport work no longer allows them direct access to Route 47.

Construction on the runway extension is expected to begin once the weather warms up, Houston said.

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Morris airport preparing for runway extension