Governor Doyle approves $237,895 for projects at West Bend Municipal Airport

May 6, 2009

Governor Jim Doyle has announced $237,895 for projects at the West Bend Municipal Airport. One project will design and reconstruct Runway 13/31. The other project will install an upgrade to the automated weather observation system (AWOS). The Governor's action releases $67,947 in state funds to help complete the projects. The City of West Bend is contributing $19,948, and the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $150,000.

According to Craig Butler, airport project manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the runway project will repair the pavement of Runway 13/31, which has deteriorated to the point that safety for arriving and departing aircraft is a prime concern. The AWOS project will enable the Federal Aviation Administration to continue to publish aircraft instrument approach procedures that have lower minimums. These lower minimums will provide inbound aircraft greater access to the airport.

The projects are scheduled to begin in April 2009 and should be completed by December 2009.

The airport consists of two runways, parallel taxiways, apron area, connector taxiways, terminal building and auto parking lot. Together, the runways accommodate about 51,000 aircraft take-offs and landings each year.

For more information, contact:
Craig Butler, WisDOT Airport Engineering Specialist
(608) 266-2729, craig.butler@dot.wi.gov