In a meeting with the Nebraska congressional delegation, the Air Force shared an important update on the runway replacement project at Offutt Air Force Base. The Air Force Civil Engineering Center intends to move ahead with a full runway replacement, not just a partial repair and replacement of damaged tiles on the runway.
The Air Force confirmed that the scope of the Offutt runway repair project will be a full runway repair consisting of concrete landing zones with asphalt center and asphalt shoulders. According to estimates by the Air Force, this planned project will adhere to the original project timeline and significantly extend the life of the runway. While the initial planning called for a 20-year lifespan requirement, full replacement may extend the life of the runway to as much as 40 to 50 years with proper maintenance.
On Wednesday, members of the Nebraska congressional delegation released the following statements reacting to the news.
“The runway replacement at Offutt has been a top priority for me since my very first day in the U.S. Senate. Confirmation from the Air Force that the scope of this project will include a full runway repair is an incredibly positive result after years of hard work and collaboration. I will continue to work hard to ensure this critical project for Nebraska and our national defense stays on track." -Senator Deb Fischer, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The men and women serving at Offutt carry out critical military missions around the world. It’s our job to make sure they have the infrastructure and resources they need to complete that important work. A fully replaced runway is good news for decades to come.” -Senator Ben Sasse.
“I commend the Air Force for its decision to proceed with a full runway replacement at Offutt Air Force Base. This strategic investment will improve mission effectiveness and flight safety for the 55th Wing and United States Strategic Command, and benefit our national security and local economy for years to come. Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is a great partner and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her and her team to see this vision through to completion." -Representative Don Bacon, member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“A new runway at Offutt is great news for Nebraska’s economy and workforce, as well as our men and women in uniform who use it as a base for operations around the world. This upgrade has been a long time in the making and I appreciate the efforts of the Trump administration in working with our congressional delegation to ensure the U.S. Air Force continues to call Nebraska home." -Representative Adrian Smith.