Times West Virginian

by  Alexis McDaniel

BRIDGEPORT (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)

The Harrison-Marion Regional Airport Authority is kicking off its evaluation of its 20-year master plan today and will ask for input from the community during the next few months. The meeting is at 9:30 a.m. at the Benedum Terminal.

 Thrasher Engineer of Clarksburg is the consultant for the project. Engineer Chad Biller said the Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to have a master plan, outlining its long-term goals. Today’s meeting is the authority’s chance to informally discuss the master plan, Biller said. “This is just the beginning. As the plan develops, there will be public meetings,” he said.

Bridgeport Mayor L.J. Timms, who is a member of the authority, said he welcomes public input anytime and encourages anyone with issues related to the airport to attend today’s meeting. “This is a really important meeting. We are planning for whoever is going to be sitting in these chairs 15 years from now,” Authority President Roger Diaz said. 


Airport Manager Jim Griffith said several issues will be included in the plan, including security at the airport. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks could play a role in how the airport terminal looks in the future, but it won’t dominate the plan, he said. “You can’t ignore something like that, but you still have to plan for growth,” Griffith said.

Biller said the plan will be completed in the next six to nine months.