Willow Run Airport to gain land from GM Powertrain site for runway expansion
The east-west runway on the north side of Willow Run Airport will be expanded from 7,200 feet long to 9,550 feet long.
The Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti Township may soon gain access to property it needs to expand one of its runways, officials announced Thursday.
The Wayne County Airport Authority, of which Willow Run Airport is a part, is engaged in a land swap with RACER Trust.
The trust is the entity that owns the former Willow Run GM Powertrain plant adjacent to the airport property.
A portion of land north of the plant that's immediately west of the airport's east-west runway will soon be under the airport authority's control, officials said.
In exchange, the airport authority will be giving RACER Trust the land on which the former GM Powertrain plant's wastewater treatment facility sits.
The runway expansion is a part of $182 million in upgrades the airport is seeking in the next 10 years.
The east-west runway runs parallel to Ecorse Road. Airport officials want to extend it from 7,200 feet long to 9,550 feet long, enabling larger planes to take off from the facility fully loaded with fuel and freight.
Amy Biolchini is the K-12 education reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
G. Orwell
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 12:56 p.m.
"The east-west runway runs parallel to Ecorse Road. Airport officials want to extend it from 7,200 feet long to 9,550 feet long, enabling larger planes to take off from the facility fully loaded with fuel and freight." Sounds exactly like what Ann Arbor city airport is attempting to do. Didn't the representatives from the Ann Arbor city airport state the expansion was solely for "safety" reasons? Heh right.
Dog Guy
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 3:44 a.m.
Another 1350 feet of runway is good because the runway behind is of no more use than the air in your tanks or the altitude above.
PineyWoodsGuy
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 3:26 a.m.
Let's just Hope that RACER (the "Old" GM discarded "assets," now "owned" 100% by us taxpayers) will dedicate a tiny portion of the North End of the Henry Ford WWII Bomber Plant to the Yankee Air Museum! It will be a Win-Win when Congressman Dingell, Dean of the House of Representatives, longest serving member in the history of the United States Congress, Godfather of the U.S. National Park Service National Battlefield Park in Monroe at the River Raisin Massacre of Kentuckians marching to relieve Fort Wayne in the War of 1812, gets Congressional approval for an "Arsenal of Democracy" WWII National Battlefield Park at Willow Run! Do it Big John! Get 'er Done!
Amy Biolchini
Thu, Sep 5, 2013 : 8:53 p.m.
Coupled with Thursday's announcement of a new connected vehicle research center at the former GM Powertrain site, upgrades at the airport will open doors for opportunities and for new tax revenue for Ypsilanti Township. http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/connected-vehicle-research-center-slated-for-former-willow-run-plant/
JimmyD
Thu, Sep 5, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.
Overall this is great news. After decades of being an economic "black hole" this area will be busy with redevelopment and jobs.
PWJT8D
Fri, Sep 6, 2013 : 2:07 a.m.
I know Ross, I can't wait! 747's are the queen of the skies, a beautiful bird.
Ross
Thu, Sep 5, 2013 : 10:03 p.m.
except for the people of ypsilanti, who will now have fully loaded 747s taking off and blasting overhead at full throttle.