"Your airport plays a vital role in the region and if it was shut down for multiple construction seasons, which is tourism season, it would be a very significant issue," he said.Īnother option that the airport could take is the construction of a new main runway to the east of the existing one.
That wouldn't work well for Rapid City, as the summer tourist season is the busiest time at the airport, Nisbet said. Because of South Dakota's winter weather, the construction season is from late spring through early fall and would require extensive airport closures for the work to be completed. However, the reconstruction would take two to three "construction seasons" to complete. If the runway were to be reconstructed in its existing location, the estimated cost would be approximately $55 million, Nisbet said, which would mostly be paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration grant program. Nisbet said the runway will likely need to be reconstructed in the next 10 years. The 8,700-feet runway was last resurfaced in 1997, airport Executive Director Patrick Dame said, and is beginning to show its age. It will take several years to implement if the Board decides to move forward. No decisions were made Tuesday on the proposed changes, as it was a discussion only with the Airport Board. The consultants identified key facility needs with the age of the airport's main runway and constraints to the commercial terminal. The proposed plan was presented by Matt Nisbet and other consultants from KLJ Engineering, who were tasked to re-evaluate facility needs at the airport considering the significant growth that is expected as tourists begin traveling back to the Black Hills and Rapid City's population continues to grow. 28-The Rapid City Regional Airport Board of Directors heard an extensive presentation Tuesday on the airport's master plan for continued growth over the next two decades.
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