Somerset County Airport Project
Airport Project Finishes Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget
July 13, 2022 | JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC-TV)
The runway lighting project at the Somerset County Airport has taken off with an addition of new L.E.D lights which finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
Dave Wright, the Somerset County airport manager, told 6 news,
“The airport was built in 1954, I think lights started somewhere in the sixties, but it slowly been added onto. I estimate them to be in the seventies so as far as I've been here, since 2007 we have not had any lights except for when we extended our runway, that was a minimal amount so they definitely had age to them.”
The new lights not only makes landing easier for pilots regardless of weather conditions while saving energy.
Wright says the L.E.D lights also cut down the cost and maintenance of traditional runway lights while offering Somerset county airport a more modern look.
Wright adds,
“We're looking for the aesthetics again at the airport, you know cleaning it up, dressing it up. We get numerous compliments from people who fly into our airport and tell us how nice of a facility we do have and this is just one more piece of that. Having these beautiful L.E.D lights here at the airport."
Bruce & Merrilees Electric Company was the prime contractor for the lighting project.
The lighting project requires replacing the original stake mounted lighting with a two-inch P.V.C unit which holds the main source of power for the new advanced lighting.
Wright tells WJAC,
“So we've had a great crew here, Bruce & Merrilees Electric is the prime contractor on this job and they’ve done an outstanding job. There approximately about 15 days ahead of schedule.”
Many airport projects carry a large price tag, but not this one.
Wright mentions,
“Typically, these projects would be a federal state and local share with Penn Dot putting in five percent and the county putting in five percent. This project because of the American Recovery Act actually ended up being one hundred percent funded.”
Dave Wright says the next expected project is drainage around the runway and taxiway.
