54 GENERAL AVIATION July | August 2026 AirportImprovement.com WWR For years, leaders at West Woodward Airport (WWR) identified critical infrastructure improvements needed to support growth and economic development throughout northwest Oklahoma. The challenge wasn’t a lack of vision or planning; it was funding. That changed in September 2022, when the Oklahoma Legislature allocated $20 million to WWR from its $250 million Progressing Rural Economic Prosperity (PREP) Fund. Lawmakers created the fund to help rural communities become more competitive through investments in traditional infrastructure—especially airports. It also complements the $1.8 billion Oklahoma received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, which funded water, wastewater, broadband and medical projects. The city-owned airport in Woodward used state PREP funds to execute a comprehensive modernization/improvement program, with an additional $1.5 million FAA award (and associated local contribution) specifically for runway work. The first round of projects, completed last fall, included: • a new terminal building; • an executive hangar with associated taxilane; and • surface access and utilities improvements, which will open up a new 40+ acre development area. Pending projects slated for completion by year-end include: • a runway/taxiway extension that will bring the runway’s total length to 6,000 feet, • rehabilitation of the existing runway, and • apron reconstruction. State Funding Helps Turn Vision Into Reality at West Woodward Airport BY MICHELLE GARDNER FACTS&FIGURES Project: Airport-wide Upgrades Location: West Woodward Airport, in Woodward, OK Key Benefits: Foster economic development for city & region; update infrastructure; prepare for future growth Funding: $20 million from state PREP program; $1.5 million from FAA for runway extension; $34,000 local New Terminal: 5,000 sq. ft. (plus dedicated parking lot); $4 million New Executive Hangar: 17,000 sq. ft., with additional 3,100 sq. ft. of office space & apron expansion; $4.4 million Associated Utilities Infrastructure: $969,000 New Taxilane: 350 ft., plus new access road; $2.6 million Runway/Taxiway Extension: 500 ft.; $7.4 million Apron Reconstruction: 144 x 140 ft.; $2.59 million Land Acquisition: 104 acres; $214,800 Construction: Spring 2024-Dec. 2026 Funds Distributor/Project Guidance: OK Dept. of Aerospace & Aeronautics Engineering Consultant: HW Lochner (now Lochner, an Egis Company) Architect: GHN Architects + Engineers General Contractor – Terminal & Hangar: W.L. McNatt & Co. General Contractor – Utilities: J.A.M. Construction General Contractor – South Taxilane: Contech General Contractor – Runway & Taxiway Extension; Apron Reconstruction; Partial Runway Rehab: Screed Tech Hangar Door: Norco - Universal Door Systems
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