Bay County International Airport moving forward

Randy Curtis (right), Executive Director of the Bay County Airport, was guest speaker at the Feb. 15th Third Thursday Coffee hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. He took time to highlight the accomplishments of those supporting the project over the past ten years, starting with the 1997-98 feasibility study that kicked off the project.

Curtis said when the Bay County Airport was originally built it was in an undeveloped part of the county. But over the 60 years since the airport was constructed he said the areas around the airport have been developed, both residentially and commercially.

Curtis said now the area is crowded and environmentalists opposed filling in the bay to provide needed runway space.

According to Curtis, when St. Joe Company offered 4,000 acres for a new airport and another 10,000 acres for mitigation supporters of the new airport began to look seriously at the project that would be located in the northwestern part of Bay County, south of Hwy 20.

State permits have been finalized and the land donation agreement has been executed, and Curtis expects ground breaking sometime this summer.

Expecting a construction costs in excess of $330 million, Curtis said funding will come from a Federal Aviation Grant (one-third of the cost); State Transportation Trust Fund (one-third of the cost); and local revenue of the airport (bonds) and sale of the existing airport (700 acres).

When complete, Curtis said there will be more than buildings on the site.

The 100,000 square foot terminal will include space for customs and immigration offices and will have six to eight gates initially, but Curtis said that number can be tripled. Additionally, he said they will start with a 8,400 foot runway, that can be expanded to 12,000 feet in the future.

Asked about the Airbus 380 coming into the airport, Curtis said that wasn't seen as an option, but would be kept in consideration for the future.

The drawing to the right outlines the entire acreage of the airport site, with the gray area in the top half outlining the actual site of the proposed airport. Highway 20 is at the top of the drawing, with State Road 79 at the left.

Ted Everett, Executive Director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the airport location's proximity to Washington County is why the Chamber feels it is imperative for the county commissioners to obtain land in the southwestern part of the county for future industrial parks.