Suwannee County Airport runway closure

-Suwannee County Airport graphic

By Tami Stevenson

The closing of the runway at Suwannee County Airport in Live Oak, is

due to a report from the FAA that stated they have met a threshold that is below usable specifications, so it’s time for some repairs.

     They plan to begin March 16 and reopen the runway sometime in mid-June, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

     “If they let it go, it winds up costing more money than just a re-surfacing, it would be a re-construction,” said Suwannee Airport Manager John Duhaime, “so it’s really a preventative maintenance thing.”

        He explained they will mill off the asphalt that’s there now and re-crown the runway to meet the current specifications required by the FAA. “If there’s any sub-grade underneath the current asphalt that needs to be repaired then they can repair that as well.”

     The runway will also receive some other upgrades, all new LED lighting to improve visibility, new approach lighting, called Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system that is a visual landing aid.

     Although the runway will be closed for the next three months, the airport will remain open. Duhaime added that some of their people are taking the opportunity to do annual maintenance and other ‘to do’s’ during this time and some have mentioned taking their planes off station to Valdosta or Lake City. The taxi way will also be closed and used for contractors only.

     The project is expected to take 90 days. “Even if the runway’s not striped yet (after the repairs are made), it should still be usable for approach and landing (by mid-June).”

     He added that lighting may or may not be available at the time it reopens, and will depend on the lighting subcontractor. “But for day approaches, it should be useful.”

     Duhaime said Curt’s Construction in Lake City was awarded the runway bid.

     The Suwannee County Airport (24J) runway 07/25, is 4,000 feet long and 75 feet wide.