Airport Construction Moving Forward
- Details
- Created on Friday, 22 April 2016 14:13
- Written by Skyler Dixon
AROUND THE NEK- Despite the federal investigation surrounding Q-Burke Resort, the Northeast Kingdom International Airport is still planning on-going construction. Questions were raised following the investigation, due to an agreement between the resort and the airport.
Q-Burke when under investigation last week following charges of fraud against the two owners, Bill Stenger and Ariel Quiros. However, according to the Assistant Director of VTrans Trini Brassard, their agreement will not impede any progress on the airport, and Stenger and Quiros have no affiliation with the state project.
“They had an agreement with the state to provide the state operator services there, sub contracted those to Leahy Aviation. Leahy Aviation is still there doing the work. They also had an agreement with us to lease some space at the airport and that was the limit of their relationship,” Brassard said.
The Northeast Kingdom International Airport, owned by the state of Vermont and formerly known as the Newport State Airport. It went under construction to receive a major upgrade, which would mostly be paid by federal grants. Stenger initially introduced the details of this upgrade in July of last year, with the intention of improving the economic development of the area. This is one of the few major development projects happening in the Northeast Kingdom, which also included the renovations at Q-Burke.
The plans for the new airport include a 1000-foot runway extension, a larger airport terminal for international cargo and passengers, a warehouse for use by businesses, a flight design assembly facility for small aircraft, and more hangers for owners of private planes. The runway was completed in November of last year, and the extension allows it to be used as a taxiway for private jets. The airport would offer regional flight service to the cities of New York and Boston.
The expansion plans were first announced in January of 2012, where the state seeked Federal approval. At that time, the expansion was expected to take nine years to complete.
Brassard wants the community to know that this project is not affected by the federal investigations, and will continue to move forward. Construction at the airport is expected to be completed by next year.
