Friday, August 12, 2011

Top three questions about Springfield-Branson airport closure

SPRINGFIELD, Mo - There have been many questions surrounding the closure of the airport. Director of Public Information and Marketing Kent Boyd sat down with KY3 News to answer some of the most common questions.

Q: I’ve purchased an airline ticket for the day airport closes. Did the airline mess up by selling me the ticket?

A: No, the airline didn’t mess up. The airport will be open Friday morning until 11:00. Approximately a dozen flights will depart before 11:00.

Q: Why are you closing the airport?

A: The airport has two runways. Only one is being resurfaced. That runway has been closed since June, while the other runway has remained open. The airport will close when resurfacing work reaches the intersection of the two runways. That’s the point when the airport has to close. Workers can’t work near the intersection while planes are taking off and landing. That would be an unsafe situation.

Q: Isn’t there a way to repave the runway without closing the airport?

A: Yes, but it would involve a long, drawn-out construction process that would take much longer and cost more.