‘Sixty days from today, we plan to have the runway and ramp back open’- Bert Loupe, airport manager

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- As if the noise wasn’t bad enough to those near the Campbell County Airport, the Stiner Airfield was officially closed first thing Monday so construction efforts could expand. The FDR project (full depth replication) began in Fall 2024.

So how do you let everyone know the airport is closed? “The system aviation operates on is that any pilot planning to fly to an airport must have a pre-flight plan that includes notifying the airport of its plan. Through NOTAM, Notices to Airmen, a notice is filed by an aviation authority to notify pilots of potential hazards along their flight route or even runway or airport closures,” said Bert Loupe, manager of the Campbell County Airport. It’s worldwide information, according to Loupe.For Stiner Airfield, runways five and two-three are now under construction, and the runway lights are out. The runway was resurfaced with a two-inch cap of asphalt in 2008 and has been resurfaced four times in its life. “This project is pulverizing the runway eight inches down, and it will be build back up,” said Loupe.

The airport, expected to take a year to build in the 1960s, took two years to construct. That project cost $500,000, $5.2 million in today’s dollars, with the county paying $25,000 for its share, according to Loupe. The FDR project price tag is $4.2 million with the county and state’s share at 5 percent each (about $200,000 each) leaving the federal government paying 90 percent.

From March 17 through May 17 is the 60 day window for constructing the runway and ramp. “If it goes beyond 60 days, a revision may be needed,” said Loupe. It’s a 275 calendar day project, according to Loupe.

“We’re shooting for the weekend before Memorial Day to have the runway and ramp back open,” said Loupe. Lifestar houses its crew and helicopter at Stiner Airfield and is not affected by the FDR project construction. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/20/2025-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON-SIGN COURTESY OF BYRGE SCREEN PRINTING)

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