Clarksville Regional Airport improving Runway to accommodate Larger Aircraft

Clarksville Regional Airport

Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Regional Airport’s primary runway (17/35) is closed until further notice to complete an extensive $12.9 million reconstruction project.

The project will rebuild and upgrade the primary runway and its markings, lighting and signage, as well as increase existing taxiway clearances. The upgrades will bring the airfield into full compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.

These improvements ensure the airport will be able to land aircraft of the same weight and size to match the weight-bearing capabilities of the apron, which was reconstructed in 2015.

The project includes the complete milling and resurfacing of the airport’s primary 6,000-foot runway.

The resurfacing will also allow the airport to correct a gradient variation exceeding FAA safety standards and widen the space between the center line of the runway and taxiway to comply with the current 300-foot FAA standard for the size and current usage at Clarksville Regional.

The runways will be resurfaced using a federally-specified aviation asphalt mix which is notably stronger, has substantially longer lifespan and has better weight bearing and brake action capabilities than traditional asphalt.

“The improvements now underway at Clarksville Regional have been in the works for some time and will allow the airport to accommodate larger jet traffic,” said Clarksville Regional Airport Manager John Patterson. “We see this as a win-win for the airport and Clarksville-Montgomery County as we continue to attract new industries and corporate clients, including Hankook, LG and others.”

This round of improvements follows up on multiple improvements, which included a total replacement of the airfield apron for aircraft parking and two new helipads in 2015 and 10 new T-Hangars in 2016.

Airport officials intend to lessen the impact of this newest round of construction on tenants and transit traffic by keeping the secondary runway open for the majority of the project. All heliport traffic will continue normal operations during construction. The reconstruction began May 1st, with the primary runway’s milling and resurfacing expected to be complete by late September.

In addition to the hard surfaces, the grant funding also allows the airport to significantly improve runway visibility with upgraded markings and a new LED airfield lighting system. This will bring all runway markings and signage into compliance with current FAA standards.

A new LED airfield lighting system will provide greater visibility for pilots while lowering energy costs for the airport. Combined with existing solar panels and motion-controlled lighting at the terminal, the airport’s investment in energy efficiency should result in even more substantial cost savings per month compared to current energy consumption.

The multimillion-dollar improvements package is funded mostly by Federal and state grant funds from aviation fuel sales. The remainder is funded by a 5 percent match split between the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County government. It is anticipated that the $646,453 local investment from city and county government will be offset by future economic impact generated by the improvements.

“These improvements will aid in providing expanded services and allow the airport to support a wider range of commercial air traffic,” said Clarksville-Montgomery County Airport Authority Chairman Sammy Stuard. “We look forward to the completion of this construction project and what it means for the future of Clarksville Regional.”

The improvements will also allow the airport to remain in compliance with FAA standards for the next 40-50 years. Jones Brothers is the primary paving contractor on the project.