Haleyville Airport runway to be repaved

HALEYVILLE        -  Flight plans for planes  normally using the Haleyville Airport have been altered since the airport is closed for a runway restoration project.
Recently, the City of Haleyville announced a $2.5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to be used toward improvements at the airport,which is located between Airport and Newburg roads.
“Our original estimate to do the runway, taxiway and apron was going to be $2.8 million,” noted Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri.
The city received the bids which, just for resurfacing the runway, totaled $2.8 million, he pointed out.
The city went ahead and accepted the bid for just the runway, with the FAA providing $2.5 million of the project costs, and the remainder split--with $126,000 being paid by the city and $126,000 being paid by the state, city officials explained.
Wiregrass Construction of Dothan received the low bid for the project.
The project began Sept, 1, and is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 31, according to  city officials.
“Hopefully they will finish before then, but Oct. 31, is listed as the day of completion,” noted City Engineer Calvin Cassady, who is overseeing the project.
The old asphalt on the runway, which is about one mile in length, has been ground up, with plans now to patch then resurface within the next two to three weeks, officials said.
“The airport is an economic tool that we have  available to us,” Sunseri pointed out. “It’s an important part of being able to bring in corporate jets.  Businesses are able to fly in here and conduct business.  It’s a vital part of our economic development for the City of Haleyville.”
 
Flight plans indicate Haleyville Airport closed

When a public-use airport is facing a temporary closure, the nearest FAA district or regional airport office must first be notified before any action occurs, according to the FAA.
Cassady explained that when pilots file for a plan to travel to Haleyville, the flight plan system has been informed that the Haleyville Airport is currently closed.
“(For) pilots who are just flying around, we have Xs out there,” Cassady added, “so they will know they can’t come into that airport.
“They are visible during the day and at night,” Cassady noted.
The large reflective yellow Xs were placed by crews on the runway to be visible from planes.
Planes that were being housed at the Haleyville Airport have been moved to other airports in the region, including Hamilton, Russellville or Muscle Shoals, officials said.