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Blue Grass Airport Opens New Runway

By Brenna Angel

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A new 4,000-foot runway is now complete at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington. State and local officials gathered on Runway 9-27 Wednesday afternoon for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Blue Grass Airport Board Chairman Bobby Owens says the old runway constrained private and corporate aircraft facilities and limited the development of new hangars.

"General aviation makes up 65% of the operations at Blue Grass Airport. General aviation serves as a major economic engine and a vital resource to our community, and this new runway will support those general aviation activities."

Governor Steve Beshear says he supports the $27-million project, which was funded equally by the FAA, the airport, and the state.

"It was a fight to keep that nine million dollars in the budget. As you all know, times are tight and everybody is scrambling for every dollar. But I knew how important this airport was going to be to the future of central Kentucky."

Beshear says the runway will help drive economic development in central Kentucky.