STEVENSVILLE -- A new section of Bay Bridge Airport located to the north of the existing terminal and runway is expected to be fully operational by this spring.
It's the third phase of a five-phase expansion of the county-owned airport, which sits between state Route 8 and the Chesapeake Bay.
"Phase III began the airport's relocation of aircraft operations by constructing half of the new FBO apron on the north side of the airport," said Jennifer Lutz, project manager for URS Corp., the county's consultant for Bay Bridge Airport.
FBO stands for Fixed Base Operator, which is the airport business that provides aeronautical services such as fueling and maintenance, she explained.
"This half (of the apron) is located adjacent to the parallel taxiway and continues north to the existing Pier One Road," Lutz said.
Phase III provides space for future hangars as well as aircraft parking to relieve congestion at the airport. The apron was substantially completed in fall 2012 and will be fully operational by spring 2013, she said.
The winning bid of $349,570 for the Phase III work was submitted by David A. Bramble Inc. of Chestertown.
The project was funded 95 percent by a grant through the Airport Improvement Program through the Federal Aviation Administration, 2.5 percent by the Maryland Aviation Administration and 2.5 percent by Queen Anne's County, according to Lutz.
The first two phases of the airport expansion, which were funded in the same way, were completed in 2010, Lutz said.
Phase I included a comprehensive plan and construction package to relocate utilities, such as water and sewer, that were adjacent to the airport property, Lutz said.
"Relocation and expansion of the utilities allowed for both future commercial development and expansion at the airport," she said.
Phase II, which cost $893,614, included the construction of a full taxiway parallel to the runway and stabilization of the Runway Safety Area (RSA), which extends into the Bay.
"Due to the land mass affecting local water currents, over time the RSA began to erode, resulting in a reduced safety area. Because of the sensitive nature of the Chesapeake Bay, URS coordinated with the various federal, state and local agencies for environmental concerns and developed a (plan) providing a breakwater condition which will protect the safety area for years to come," Lutz explained.
The new taxiway allows for improved taxiing of aircraft and minimizes the need to cross the runway, Lutz said.
Construction of the new apron in Phase III is the first step in eventually re-locating the airport's operations facilities to the north side of the new taxiway. Long-range plans call for future hangars and aircraft parking space there as well.
Two more phases remain.
Phase IV continues the utility relocation begun in Phase I and the relocation of Pier One Road. Construction timetables and funding remain to be determined, according to Lutz. Phase V completes the expansion of the airport by extending the apron built in Phase III to the new Pier One Road and allows for the terminal and offices to be moved there, she said. The timetable and funding have not yet been determined.
A general aviation facility, Bay Bridge Airport has two maintenance shops and three flight schools.
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