PROJECT PURPOSE
The purpose of the proposed action is to provide safe airport operations by bringing into and maintaining compliance with the current FAA airspace safety and design standards. FAA Safety and Design Standards require mitigation of objects in the safety areas and navigable airspace of the airport runways and approaches.
The project is needed because the most recent FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) conducted during 2018 – 2020 evaluated over 1200 potential airspace obstructions and identified 214 objects (trees, utility poles, fences, roads, signs & high points on structures) within the Build-ing Restriction Line, Runway Protection Zone, FAA Threshold Siting Surface, Part 77 Approach Surface, and Airport Easements for Runways 18/36, 13/31, and 5/23. These objects are identified on the FAA approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP-2020). If not addressed, these objects would continue to pose a safety threat to arriving and departing aircraft. Of immediate concern are super canopy trees (height potential over 25 ft.) located on airport property which have exceeded airport runway safety and design standards. The identified tree obstructions over the next 5-10 years will continue to grow and encroach further into the navigable airspace of the airport. Also of concern are objects (trees, utility poles, & structures) located off the airport property within the Airport Easements, building restriction line, adjacent private property and public utility right of ways. These identified objects need to be mitigated to bring the airport into conformance with FAA safety and design standards.
PROJECT NEED
The project is needed because the most recent FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) conducted during 2018 – 2020 evaluated over 1200 potential airspace obstructions and identified 214 objects (trees, utility poles, fences, roads, signs & high points on structures) within the Build- ing Restriction Line, Runway Protection Zone, FAA Threshold Siting Surface, Part 77 Approach Surface, and Airport Easements for Runways 18/36, 13/31, and 5/23. These objects are identified on the FAA approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP-2020). If not addressed, these objects would continue to pose a safety threat to arriving and departing aircraft.
Of immediate concern are super canopy trees (height potential over 25 ft.) located on airport property which have exceeded airport runway safety and design standards. The identified tree obstructions over the next 5-10 years will continue to grow and encroach further into the navigable airspace of the airport. Also of concern are objects (trees, utility poles, & structures) located off the airport property within the Airport Easements, building restriction line, adjacent private property and public utility right of ways. These identified objects need to be mitigated to bring the airport into conformance with FAA safety and design standards.
PUBLIC MEETINGS:
One-on-one meetings will be held at the Junction City Municipal Building in the gymnasium (700 North Jefferson) on October 21 and 28 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. to answer questions about the obstruction removals. If you would like to schedule a meeting, contact Brad Waller (via phone preferably) using the contact information below. Meeting times will be 15 minutes in length and must be reserved in advance to follow social distancing guidelines.
Brad Waller, P.E.
3226 Kimball Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66503
785-320-4811
PROPOSED ACTION
There are several proposed actions for eliminating or mitigating the airspace obstructions identified on the FAA approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP-2020). Removal is the preferred action for most obstructions (structures, utility poles, & trees) to Part 77 Approach Surfaces and Airport Easements for Runways 18/36, 13/31, and 5/23. Mitigation of obstructions, where allowed by FAA standards, includes trimming or topping of trees or marking and lighting of structures. The Proposed Actions include:
- Relocate or bury utility lines and remove fifty-seven (57) utility poles which conflict with FAA airspace and safety guidelines standards (2020) for the RPZ, TSS and AS-AS (anticipated 2020).
- Lower or relocate four (4) powerlines which conflict with FAA airspace and safety standards (2020) for the RPZ, TSS and AS-AS.
- Acquire property and remove or mitigate two (2) structure obstructions within the BRL and RPZ that exceed the 25ft building height restriction of the FAA airspace and safety standards within Runway 18/36 and Runway 23 RPZ and BRL (2025).
- Acquire easements to remove or trim/top ninety-six (96) tree and tree clusters which exceed 25ft height and conflict with FAA airspace and safety standards (2025) for the RPZ, TSS, AS-AS, XESMT.
- Relocate Runway 5 & 18 ends of pavement to avoid nine (9) airspace obstructions including buildings, streets, fences, & signs which includes:
- Removing pavement and regrading, and relocating the end of pavement for Runway 18
- Revise Approach/Departure Procedures
- Relocate Runway 18 & 23 Thresholds to avoid four (4) fence obstructions within the TSS
- Revise Departure Procedure for Runway 18
- Install red obstruction lighting for thirty-seven (37) points on fences and light poles in the RPZ, TSS, AS-AS, XESMT in order to comply with FAA airspace and safety standards (2020).
SCOPE OF WORK
There will be impacts to trees and shrubs on and off airport property, which may require clearing and grubbing, stump removal, treating stumps with herbicides, and ground disturbance. Utility poles may be lowered, or utility lines may be buried underground. This may cause mi-nor ground disturbance in the public right-of-way and/or existing utility easements on private property. There may be impacts to water bodies and natural features such as wetlands and floodplains. All appropriate federal and state permits will be obtained. There are possible impacts to historic properties on and around the airport property. Any parties who may be interested in participating in the Section 106 consultation process should contact us.
Additional Documentation:
Junction City runway relocations map
Junction City Legal Notice
Junction City Flyer
Junction City Flyer Spanish
Junction City Comment Form
Junction City 2021 Obstruction Removals Map
Junction City runway relocations map