At the Annual Conference of the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, held in Greenville, South Carolina in May, Asheville Regional Airport received a significant award. AVL received the "Commercial Airport Project of the Year" award for its construction of its Temporary Runway 17-35 and Taxiway B.
The airport broke ground on the biggest construction project since the airport was built and opened in 1961. Titled "Project SOAR: Significant Opportunity for Aviation and the Region," the massive construction project is taking place in four phases. The site preparation and construction of the temporary runway and taxiway connector, the first two phases of Project SOAR, was recognized at the AAAE-SE annual conference as the Project of the Year.
Specifically, AVL was recognized for its efficient and resourceful reuse of coal combustion bi-product as fill for a portion of the temporary runway site preparation, as well as its creative plan to build a runway that will be used for two years while the longer, wider permanent runway is constructed. At the conclusion of the four-phase project, the temporary runway will be converted to a west-side taxiway, which will open access to 45+ acres of land suitable for aeronautical development.
