Photo above – FAA New England Regional Administrator Colleen D’Alessandro addresses attendees.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is celebrating the groundbreaking of the Taxiway B South project at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Western Massachusetts.
Airport officials broke ground on the $32 million project on Monday, May 13, at a ceremony attended by elected officials, municipal leaders, and members of the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. When completed, the Taxiway B South project will significantly improve airfield safety for civilian and military operations. Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is one of 35 public use airports across Massachusetts overseen by MassDOT’s Aeronautics Division.
“Our airports are a vital part of Massachusetts’s transportation network, linking residents, visitors and businesses and spurring economic activity in their communities,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “On behalf of everyone in the community, I want to thank the 104th Fighter Wing and the airport management team for their determination and their ongoing work to bring this vision to life.”
“We congratulate the entire team at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport on this groundbreaking and look forward to supporting them in every way that we can in this endeavor,” said MassDOT Aeronautics Administrator Jeff DeCarlo. “The regional economic importance of Westfield-Barnes cannot be overstated, making this infrastructural upgrade a welcome development for the surrounding community.”
Christopher Willenborg, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport manager said the airport is a significant transportation asset and economic engine for Western Massachusetts that generates approximately 2,100 jobs. The airport has an economic impact of $236M each year.
“The Taxiway B South Relocation and Construction Project will enhance the safety of civilian and military aircraft utilizing Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport,” said Willenborg. “We greatly appreciate the spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the five funding agencies including the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense National Guard Bureau, Massachusetts Governor Military Taskforce, MassDOT Aeronautics Division, and City of Westfield.”
The $32 million project is the largest single investment in infrastructure improvement in the airport’s 100-year history, expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The project consists of three main components:
- Realigning and widening of Taxiway B South
- Realigning and widening of Taxiway E
- Reconstructing and expanding the South Arm Apron
In addition to widening and realigning the taxiways, these changes will enhance the safety of aircraft operations by lowering the possibility of runway incursions at the Taxiway B South and Runway 15-33 intersection. The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is a significant transportation asset and economic engine for Western Massachusetts, supporting about 2,100 direct and indirect jobs, an annual economic output of $236 million, and serving business, corporate, emergency, military, and recreational flyers.
“As a longtime supporter of Barnes and the capable airmen and women who support and defend the Commonwealth and this nation, I was thrilled to join Adjutant General Keefe and Colonel Halasi-Kun last May to announce the assignment of a new fleet of F-35A aircraft to Barnes. Just one year later, we are breaking ground on a project that will prepare Barnes to receive the new aircraft, guaranteeing the long-term viability of the base and ensuring the 104th Fighter Wing can continue its vital mission for years to come,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal. “Ensuring the sustainability of both Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base has been a top priority of mine throughout my time in Congress. I am pleased to partake in the groundbreaking of yet another project, one that will play a vital role in improving airfield safety for civilian and military operations.”
