Associated Press Published

West Virginia Airport Gets Federal $13 Million Grant to Fix Runway

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West Virginia’s most used airport will receive a $13.5 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to rebuild the runway safety overrun area that collapsed after a 2015 landslide.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the state’s U.S. congressmen announced the allocation Wednesday for Yeager Airport. Replacing the area allows Yeager to restore 500 feet (150 meters) of runway for operational use.

It nearly matches the $14 million April request airport officials made for the repairs and replacement of the EMAS bed, which stops an aircraft if it overshoots a runway. Last month officials were expecting the FAA to notify on whether an $8 million emergency grant would be given to order EMAS materials and begin work on the project.

Airport governing board chairman Ed Hill says a meeting Monday will accept the grant.