Georgetown County Airport to break ground on second runway reconstruction

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Ground breaking on the $6.3 million reconstruction of Georgetown County Airport’s second runway is set to take place on Friday, after its original installation during World War II, county officials said on Monday.

Runway 11/29 is a secondary runway at the Lowcountry airport, which are usually not eligible for Federal Aviation Administration funding. Due to this, many are in poor condition.

“The leadership at the state Aeronautics Commission recognized this as a safety issue and created a new program that would allow 90% of projects to be funded through state support, making it feasible for local governments to complete these projects,” Jim Taylor, Georgetown County Airport manager said.

This runway will be the first in the state to take advantage of the new program. When it was installed by the military in 1942, the original construction included asphalt laid over tree stumps and roots, which eventually led to voids and sinkholes. It has not been resurfaced since.

The project is aimed at enhancing safety and operational capabilities at the airport, and serves as Georgetown County’s contribution to recognizing the vital role aviation plays in the state’s economy and infrastructure.

“We’re proud to take this important step in making the airport safer and more reliable for all users,” Taylor said. “This reconstruction ensures that pilots have a safe crosswind runway available and allows for continued operations if maintenance is needed on our primary runway.”

Those wanting to attend the groundbreaking should enter at the airport’s back gate, located at 860 Aviation Blvd in Georgetown.