Governor Doyle approves $116,370 project at Alexander Field - South Wood County Airport

July 10, 2009

Governor Jim Doyle has approved a $116,370 project to survey the airport for aircraft instrument approach procedures at the Alexander Field – South Wood County Airport.  The Governor’s action releases $2,909.50 in state funds for the project and the city of Wisconsin Rapids, village of Port Edwards and town of Grand Rapids are matching that amount.  The Federal Aviation Administration will provide $110,551.

According to Terry Ripp, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the survey will improve the minimums for the approaches and will improve the accuracy, integrity and availability for aircraft to land at the Alexander Field airport.

The project is scheduled to begin in June 2009 and should be completed by September.

Alexander Field has two paved runways; the primary runway is 5,500 feet in length and the secondary, or crosswind, runway is 3,470 feet in length.  The airport also has a north-south turf runway 2,100 feet in length.  Sixty-nine aircraft are based at the airport, utilizing 36 hangars.  Approximately 16,000 take-offs and landings occur at the airport each year.

For more information, contact:
Terry Ripp, WisDOT Airport Engineering Specialist
(608) 267-7109, terry.ripp@dot.wi.gov