Arnold Palmer Regional Airport runway on track for reopening Friday

Crews are wrapping up work this week on widening the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

Meanwhile, construction has begun on an addition to the airport terminal.

“We’re right on track,” for scheduled reopening of the improved runway on Friday, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport at routes 30 and 981 in Unity.

He said the runway will reopen at 6:15 a.m. Friday to accommodate corporate and general aviation aircraft.

The runway has been closed since Sept. 8 so contractors could finish up work that began last spring to widen the runway from 100 feet to 150 feet.

Spirit Airlines, the airport’s sole commercial carrier, is slated to resume its flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C., and destinations in Florida beginning on Oct. 7.

Monzo said workers this week were finishing application of fresh paint markings to the expanded runway as well as a related task — replacing asphalt paving with concrete, to strengthen the terminal apron in areas where aircraft park while passengers board or leave planes.

Remaining work will include seeding grass on sections of ground that were dug up during the runway project and installing runway lighting.

Monzo has noted the wider runway will make it easier for pilots to land at the airport during inclement weather.

Also this week, a crew with subcontractor Butz Masonry and Excavating was pouring a footer for a 2,000-square-foot addition to the airport terminal. The new addition, next to the baggage claim room, will house car rental counters that are being relocated to make way for an expanded passenger holding area.

A spokesman for general contractor ABS Building System Integrators said the company hopes to complete all its work on the project, including a 50% expansion of the passenger area, within about four months.