Smith Field Airport receives federal funding

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority has received Federal funding for the Runway 5/23 Rehabilitation project at Smith Field Airport (SMD). The project is federally funded by the Airport Improvement Program with a combination of entitlement and discretionary funds totaling $1,071,618. The project will include pavement removal and replacement as well as milling and overlaying Runway 5/23. The project work was awarded to Wayne Asphalt & Construction Company, Inc. through a competitive bidding process.

“Runway 5/23 is our primary runway at Smith Field Airport and we are excited about this needed improvement,” said Torrance Richardson, Executive Director of Airports. “We expect to start the project this month and anticipate completion sometime around the end of November.”

The two landing strips at SMD, Runway 5/23 and Runway 13/31 do intersect with each other. However, with the exception of a couple of hours when the contractor paints the runway centerline, runway 13/31 will be open and available for airfield users throughout the construction project.

The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority was created in 1985 and is responsible for managing the Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field. In the last few years, FWACAA has undergone an aggressive improvement plan at SMD, which included the construction of an aircraft maintenance training facility in partnership with Ivy Tech, the installation of an Automated Weather Observation System in partnership with Parkview Hospital, the installation of a compass swing site in partnership with the 99’s, the installation of a self-serve aviation fuel system, and various facility, electrical, storm water, and pavement improvements. The Authority is governed by a six–member board appointed by both the Mayor of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Commissioners.