Denton Airport moving forward with Southeast Taxiway Project

This is the first of two major Denton Airport capital improvements scheduled for completion in 2010.

Denton Airport

The Denton Airport was recently notified by the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division (TxDOT Aviation) that they have selected a contractor to build southeast taxiway. This new taxiway will be approximately 2,305 feet and will open 34 lots for hangar development in the southeast area of the Denton Airport. The low bid for this project was submitted by McMahon Contracting from Irving in the amount of $1,171,760. Funding for this capital improvement project came from a Federal Aviation Administration grant (95%), with $90,000 (5%) in local matching funds from royalty revenue received from natural gas production on airport property. This funding was recommended by the Airport Advisory Board and approved by the Denton City Council in April 2008.

A notice to proceed with construction of the southeast taxiway project is expected by mid-January 2010. The project is scheduled for completion in six months, and KSA Engineers will serve as project manager for the construction. Once complete, the taxiway will be turned over to Denton Airport for operation and maintenance.

The demand for new ground leases from aviation businesses and individual aircraft owners remains high at Denton Airport even in the current soft economy. When fully leased, the new hangar lots with taxiway access and subsequent increase in fuel sales will produce significant revenue to support public aviation services at the airport. New hangar construction and aircraft based at Denton Airport will generate ad valorem and sales tax revenue for the city.

Over the past seven years, more than $24 million worth of public infrastructure improvements have been constructed, or are scheduled for completion in 2010, to improve service and operating safety at Denton Airport. These improvements include: a taxiway parallel to the runway, an air traffic control tower, a new terminal building, the southeast taxiway project, and a 1,000 foot runway extension. These projects have been funded through federal and state grants with less than $3.8 million in local participation. Service improvements have helped attract tens of millions of dollars of private aviation business and personal investment at Denton Airport over this same time period.

This is the first of two major Denton Airport capital improvements scheduled for completion in 2010. A 1,000 foot extension of the main runway, with related security and flight safety infrastructure, is expected to begin construction in the Spring of 2010, with completion in time to provide improved service for general aviation traffic expected from NFL Super Bowl XLV in Arlington on February 2011. Denton Airport will be equipped to provide enhanced services for private aviation related to special events such NASCAR races, university sporting events, and other recurring activities in the North Central Texas area.

Source: City of Denton