Prior to making an announcement regarding road projects that will be taking place in the region, Gov. Jim Justice made a pitstop in the terminal building of the North Central West Virginia Airport to check the status of a project he helped greenlight with grant money.

 

Justice flew into the airport this afternoon to meet with members of the Benedum Airport Authority, the airport’s governing body. The governor wanted to see the status of the beginnings of the new terminal project at the Bridgeport facility.

 

“I’m just coming here to see that you all are not just laying here out on a beach and really doing something,” said Justice with a laugh.

 

As it turns out, the NCWV Airport Authority is doing something about it. Although they explained details of issues that they are facing to move ahead in a private session, the project is not new to Justice.

 

In fact, it was almost a year to the day, on August 6, 2019 to be exact, that Justice was in the city to announce a $10 million grant from the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council to cover the first phase of a new terminal project and ultimately flat land for future development.

 

Airport Authority President David Hinkle said the entire first phase of the project will cost $14.6 million. What is not covered by the $10 million – environmental and engineering costs primarily – will be covered by the airport and local government.

 

Wolfe’s Excavating out of Harrison County was awarded the bid for the excavation work on May 20. Work on the permit and engineering front continues as the contractor has yet to officially begin the process, said NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock. Wolfe’s had a winning bid of $10,665,698.60.

 

“We hope to move dirt by late fall,” said Authority member and Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang.

 

When finished, the airport will have a new terminal on the opposite side of the runway off State Route 279. It will replace a terminal that has served the community for roughly half a century.

 

“You hate to say it because this great facility has served a long, long time. Fifty years is almost as old me and you see how I look. At one time I had brown hair and was skinny,” said Justice who was in a lighthearted mood during the short public portion of the gathering.

 

The terminal and subsequent developable land is expected to aid the massive, yet widely unknown, aerospace presence at the airport. The airport is home to an aerospace industry that has a $1.2 billion annual economic impact.

 

Once finished, the excavation will create the site for the new terminal along with 100 acres of land for development. All of it will be near the longest commercial runway in the state.

 

“This, what you have here, not only is it really going to work, this is truly going to bring thousands of additional jobs to the area an get people in and out from the tourism standpoint,” said Justice. “It’s going to do so many different things and when they land, their first impression of where they’re at and what they’re doing here becomes really important.

 

“I’m really excited about what you’re doing. This is the type of project we ought to be doing in the state,” the Governor continued. “My participating and my excitement and enthusiasm for what you’re doing hasn’t changed at all. I’m in wholeheartedly. I love it.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Governor Jim Justice departing the state airplane shortly after landing at the NCWV Airport, while Airport Authority President David Hinkle is shown in the middle photo. Bottom photo shows Justice talking to Authority member and Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang.