The ZAA has made a determination to better serve the aviation and safety needs of the facility and the region by rehabilitating Runway 17-35 to a length that is more suitable for actual and projected aviation operations.
Existing terrain and incompatible land uses that are adjacent to the airport property have reduced the usable portion of the runway as well. The threshold of Runway 35 has been displaced by 280’ and the threshold of Runway 17 has been displaced by 550’, largely due to the impact of S.R. 288 on the approach surfaces. As a result of multiple surface penetrations, nighttime operations involving Runway 17 have been suspended.
In an effort to eliminate these conditions, the airport authority pursued grants to improve the service at the airport and secured funding to start these improvement. The final goal is to achieve 5,002’ final runway length and eliminate restrictions for night operation. The first phase which is under way includes the reconstruction of 4,000ft starting from runway 35 and eliminating the 282ft displacement. In conjunction with this phase, a proposed realignment project for SR 288, which is adjacent to the runway, is under design to eliminate approach issues in preparation of the final phase which will be for the construction of the final 1,002ft of the runway. As part of the final phase, the elevation of runway 17 will be increased by 15ft. This final phase will allow the use of the airport for night operation with no restrictions.
Figure 1 – Zelienople Municipal Airport Pavement Condition Index (PCI) Map