BETHEL – The runway at Sullivan County International Airport will be getting a complete makeover with the federal government picking up 90 percent of the tab.
The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program will kick in $3.6 million toward the project with the state paying five percent and the county contributing the remaining five percent.
Airport Superintendent James Arnott said the 6,300-foot-long airstrip is the longest of any airport in the region, not including the main runway at New York Stewart International, which is just shy of 12,000 feet. Stewart has commercial airline service. Sullivan does not, but Arnott said its charter jet traffic has grown significantly with an 80 percent increase during the just concluded summer months.
Because the runway is active all day long, Arnott said all of the rehab work will be performed overnight.
He expects the work to begin next spring. This will be the first time in 20 years that the runway will be completely rehabilitated.
Arnott has reported at recent county legislature meetings that air traffic is on the upswing at the airport in Bethel, not far from Bethel Woods and the casino and water park in Kiamesha.
“Investing in our infrastructure is key to developing our economy, creating jobs, and attracting businesses to Sullivan County, and improving Sullivan Airport’s runway will allow them to continue to run efficiently,” said Congressman Antonio Delgado (D, NY-19).
