Improvements to Sedalia Regional Airport are under way.

Airport Manager Eric Bowers detailed some of the progress being made at the busy little transportation hub.

“We are about a month into our apron reconstruction project. It is a two-phase project, and as of today, I believe everything is paved on the first stage, which is about two-thirds of the total ramp area that will be repaved. I hope to see that opened by the end of the month and then we can get self-service back online and start working on the other side of the ramp. So far, everything is going really well. They are a little bit ahead of schedule, we've had really favorable weather, and we hope to be wrapped up. hopefully by the first week of July,” Bowers told KSIS after the regular City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Bowers noted that the existing concrete was very old and starting to come apart, “which is very dangerous with aircraft running,” Bowers said. “It's called FOD (foreign object damage) and those little pieces of decaying concrete can actually be drawn up into the aircraft and cause a lot of damage, get people hurt, etc."

He added that the apron project is very helpful in keeping the area safe and well maintained.

The apron (overall) will grow, which will allow more large jets to operate and maneuver without the congestion. The apron will extend another 30 feet to the east of the ramp, Bowers noted.

Sedalia Regional normally sees about 30 operations a day. “We usually see 11,500 to 12,000 operations a year,” Bowers said. Recent construction has put a damper on that number, but he expects to see traffic pick up substantially this summer.

More From AM 1050 KSIS