[Southsider2k12]

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/busin...4852a32257.html

MICHIGAN CITY — In order to accommodate more corporate jets at the municipal airport here, a busy stretch of U.S 20 may be lowered so planes can safely land on an extended runway above it.

The Michigan City Common Council Tuesday night approved spending $444,000 toward engineering costs for the proposed project with an estimated price tag of $9 million.

“This here is one of the most exciting economic development tools I’ve seen come along in a while in Michigan City,’’ said City Councilman Don Przybylinski.

The project is contingent upon approval of a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration that would pay for 90 percent of the proposed project, according to airport manager Jessica Ward. She said she hopes to submit that application in September 2018.

The remainder of the cost would be split evenly between the city and state, Ward said.

Michigan City Municipal Airport’s current runway is 4,100 feet long, which is too short for most corporate jets to safely land, Przybylinski said, requiring pilots to instead use airports in South Bend, Valparaiso or LaPorte for trips into Michigan City.

Council President Chris Schwanke said the runway, which is just north of U.S. 20, would be lengthened to 5,000 feet following its extension across the highway near the Interstate 94 interchange.

He said a number of companies would also like to house their corporate jets in local airport hangars, but don’t now because of the runway.

“If we’re successful in getting this done,” Schwanke explained, “it’ll be the only airport in Indiana that has a runway bridge.”

He added that at a length of 5,000 feet, even a commercial jet would be able to touch down safely on the runway during an emergency.

Lowering U.S 20 and building the cut walls for extending the runway would be completed first if FAA funding is secured. Extending the runway would follow.

City leaders view the project as another selling point for attracting and retaining manufacturers and other companies.

Przybylinski said more corporate jets landing here also means increased sales of rocket fuel, already a major source of income for the airport, which was built in 1985.

Talk of extending the runway has gone on for at least a decade, but funding has always been a major hurdle.

‘‘We finally found a way to do it and I think this is a really good move for Michigan City,’’ said Councilwoman Pat Boy.

Schwanke said he is optimistic the FAA grant application will be approved.

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Oh great, maybe they can rename it to: MC International Airport