Construction Begins on Phase 2 of Airport's Parallel Taxiway Extension

Heavy machinery and construction equipment will be a frequent sight at the Hillsdale Municipal Airport (JYM) over the next few weeks as the second phase of the airfield’s parallel taxiway extension project is now underway.

In 2015, the Airport broke ground on a parallel taxiway system to augment its single asphalt runway, designed to improve safety and accommodate an increasing volume of air traffic. The first phase, completed the same year, saw the construction of Taxiway C from the Runway 10 end of Runway 10-28 to the terminal apron.

Now, Phase 2 of the project will see Taxiway C extended from the run-up area of the Runway 28 end to the Airport’s T-hangar buildings. It will also include a taxiway connector to join it to the runway. Integral taxiway edge lighting, guidance signage, airfield pavement markings, and drainage improvements will be installed to accommodate the new taxiway addition.

Once finished, the new Taxiway C extension will allow aircraft to vacate the runway from either end via taxiway, while preserving the existing terminal apron that would otherwise have been demolished if the extension were to occur on the west side of the terminal building.

“As usage of the Hillsdale Municipal Airport has increased in recent years, our airport has become the first impression of our community for a growing number of visitors,” Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie said. “The parallel taxiway extension project demonstrates our continued commitment to increasing the safety and efficiency of this important gateway to our city.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced in 2020 that the Airport would receive supplemental discretionary funding towards the extension of Taxiway C. The City of Hillsdale was originally going to be required to contribute a 5% match, however, federal monies provided by the CARES Act for aviation purposes covered that, resulting in no cost to the City for Phase 2 of the project — estimated at $1.4 million including construction and design costs.

“In February 2020, at the Michigan Association of Airport Executives Conference in Lansing, the Hillsdale Municipal Airport was acknowledged and we were told that we were on the shortlist for federal funding,” Hillsdale Municipal Airport Manager Ginger Moore said. “A few months later Congressman Tim Walberg presented us with the grant.”

A future, third phase of the project will see the terminal building, aircraft parking areas and T-hangar buildings relocated to the northwest to make space for the two Taxiway C additions to be connected in the middle, completing the entire full-length parallel taxiway. As of now, no start date has been set for the final phase.

The parallel taxiway extension project is a much-needed safety upgrade, significantly reducing the risk posed to aircraft of having to backtaxi using the single 5,000-ft. runway, and allowing for simultaneous operations of taxiway and runway traffic.

The new Taxiway C extension is expected to be ready for use in early October. Construction will not interfere with any airport operations.