For a large portion of the past decade, the Wayne Executive Jetport has been experiencing problems with the asphalt pavement for its main aircraft parking apron. When aircraft park on the apron, they often leave depressions in the pavement, leading airport staff to need to tug aircraft from their parked position occasionally. Because of this continual challenge, steel plates used to park larger aircraft now sit on the asphalt pavement. Additionally, this apron pavement deficiency has limited the aircraft that could use the airport and caused operational issues. A multi-million-dollar apron pavement rehabilitation project is now underway to provide the pavement strength needed to accommodate the airport’s current and future aircraft.
In 2019, WK Dickson began preliminary testing of the apron pavement to identify potential solutions. Design began in 2020 and included the removal of the existing pavement and some of the subgrade. Following demolition of the existing pavement, four inches of asphalt will be laid over 13 inches of crushed aggregate base course to construct 27,080 square yards of new asphalt pavement. The project also calls for the removal of two abandoned underground fuel tanks. Once the design was complete, all that was needed to proceed with construction was the project’s funding.
WK Dickson coordinated with the Jetport Commission, Wayne County, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Aviation to obtain $3.7 million in state funds to make the improvements. A 10 percent local match of $411,111 also was allocated for the project.
The first phase of construction began in April 2022, and the expected completion date for the entire project is August 2022.
The apron pavement rehabilitation project will encourage future growth at the Wayne Executive Jetport. The rehabilitated apron pavement will accommodate current aircraft and allow larger aircraft to utilize the airport safely.
