The roar of Navy turboprop planes taking off and landing will fade from the skies around Naval Station Norfolk this spring, as the airfield there gets its once-every-15-years repaving.
Chambers Field will be closed to fixed-wing aircraft from March 1 to June 30.
All E-2C Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound squadrons will shift operations to Naval Air Station Oceana. The E-C2 planes are the early-warning aircraft with the large saucer-shaped radar compartment attached to the top of the fuselage. The C-2 planes carry supplies and people to aircraft carriers when they are at sea.
All Air Mobility Command passenger operations will shift to Baltimore Washington International Airport and all cargo operations will shift to Joint Base Charleston. Helicopter operations will continue at the Naval Station, however.
Capt. Vince Baker, Naval Station Norfolk’s commanding officer, said the the air operations team has been coordinating the project and temporary closure for several years.
“We are ready for this critical infrastructure investment project to kick off next week that will enable safe operations at Chambers Field ... into the foreseeable future,” he said.
The $16.9 million construction contract calls for Williamsburg-based Branscome Companies Inc. to resurface the runway and demolish 99,480 square yards of excess pavement. The Navy also plans to update electrical infrastructure, navigational aide replacements and signage.
Runways are typically resurfaced every 15 years. Chambers Field was last resurfaced in 2005.
Chambers Field is one of the busiest military runways on the East Coast with an average of 44,000 take offs and landings per year.
Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, [email protected]
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