The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published November 14, 2018

Contract for design of airport extension approved

CAMDENTON – The runway extension for the Camdenton Memorial-Lake Regional Airport is moving forward with the approval of a contract last week with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc (CMT) to provide designs for the expansion.

CMT will provide designs for the runway 15/33 and parallel taxiway extension pre-grading, closing Forbes Road, extend Opportunity Road and extend the wildlife fence.

The project will cost $188,500 but a state funded grant will pay 90 percent and the city will pay the remaining 10 percent.

CMT design details will be for the following work:

1. Conduct geotechnical investigation.
2. Clear and grub grading limits. Trim trees that are obstructions and located within avigation easement areas.
3. Grade Runway 33 and parallel taxiway for a 1,000 foot extension to the south.
4. Grade and pave Opportunity Road extension through the business park and connect to Business Park Road.
5. Close Forbes Road through the runway extension area and construct a cul-de-sac for Forbes Road termination point on the west side of the extension and connect Forbes Road to Opportunity Road on east side of extension.
6. Relocate utilities as required along Forbes Road through closure area.
7. Conduct intersection study at intersection of Business Park Road and State Route 7.
8. Relocate entrance road to Hill N’ Dale Mobile Home Estates to outside of the Runway 15 RPZ.
9. Demolish building located inside the Runway 15 RPZ on the former Hall property.
10. Extend wildlife fence.

The actual work on the runway extension is only tentatively scheduled due to the availability of funds. The cost is estimated at $5.5 million.

“While we have not received notice of Federal approval of total funding for the complete runway extension, I believe that MoDOT Aviation is confident that we will indeed receive funding,” City Administrator Jeff Hancock explained in his report to the Board of Aldermen. “As a result, they have authorized a State funded grant of $172,530 for CMT to do the design of: pregrading; closing of Forbes Road; extension of Opportunity Road; and extension of wildlife fence.”

Hancock also explained the funding issue in detail.

“As also communicated, the complete runway extension project is now being considered for FY 2019 AIP Discretionary funds which require a 10 percent local match. Under a separate $1 Billion set aside funding source, the City has also applied for a grant application for FY 2018 funding for the runway extension grading package. If this special funding is awarded, there would be no local match. If not awarded, a grant application will automatically be considered for FY 2019 and FY 2020 funds. Between these two funding sources, it is hopeful that the project will have a grant in place to start construction no later than September 30, 2019. The earliest construction would start is March 1, 2019.”

Related to this was an approval by the board for the city to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for financial assistance through the State Block Grant Program for the design costs.

The current runway is listed at 4,000 feet in length and the goal is to extend it to 5,000.

When the project started the city had to purchase land from 11 land owners in order to complete the expansion.

The expansion may delay the Camdenton Airshow in 2019, depending on when the construction would start. The airshow has become a huge attraction for people and if it is delayed in 2019, then it will be back for a 2020 airshow with the longer runway.

The Camdenton airport currently has the second longest runway in the lake area (4,000 feet). Lee C. Fine airport runway length is 6,497 feet while the Grand Glaize Airport runway is 3,206 feet long. The city is banking on the longer runway allowing more corporate jets to fly into Camdenton bringing more business to the area.

This was stated in a resolution passed by the city in April of 2011 when the project was brought to light. The resolution stated:

“WHEREAS, the construction of said runway extension would greatly affect the economic climate of the Lake of the Ozarks in a positive manner, increasing both state and county revenues, and

“WHEREAS, the construction of said runway extension is a pivotal point of interest for companies that are currently looking at the Lake of the Ozarks as a place to relocate their business activities, and

“WHEREAS, the Camden County Commission is actively working to recruit businesses to relocate to Camden County and the Lake of the Ozarks from other states through a very aggressive economic development program…”