Governor Doyle approves additional $400,000 for project at Stevens Point Airport

May 27, 2008

Governor Jim Doyle has released $400,000 in state airport development funds to complete improvements including installation of an Instrument Landing System at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport. These funds will be added to the $918,000 in federal funds received last month for the project. In addition to paying for the ILS equipment, the project will pay for construction of a parallel taxiway required for this kind of air navigation system.

According to Mike Gabor, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the project includes an environmental assessment, design and construction engineering, approach clearing, construction of a taxiway parallel to the primary runway, and purchase and installation of the ILS. The Instrument Landing System will provide a much safer approach to Stevens Point's primary runway and will allow aircraft to land in inclement weather and darkness when flying under instrument flight conditions.

WisDOT's Bureau of Aeronautics will provide oversight of the project construction. The FAA will take ownership of the system and provide future monitoring and maintenance. The project is expected to be completed by October 2008.

Stevens Point Municipal Airport is located three miles northeast of the city of Stevens Point in Portage County. The airport consists of two runways that together accommodate some 37,000 aircraft take-offs and landings each year. A newly completed business/industrial park south of the city has attracted businesses that depend on the airport to conduct their business operations.

For more information, contact:
Mike Gabor, WisDOT Airport Engineering Specialist
(608) 267-5021, michael.gabor@dot.state.wi.us