Tag Archives: Mitchell International

December 1, 2009 · 10:17 pm

Another Mitchell International Runway Update

I got another update in my inbox today regarding the Mitchell International Airport runway extension project.

Given the proximity of the main north-south runway to the 4th District — maybe a half mile from certain parts of the district — I’ll try and keep you informed on this issue as the work continues into 2010.

Here’s an excerpt from the December 1 update:

(Runway) construction work will now shift to College Ave. during daylight hours, except during inclement weather. During the day, passenger planes will primarily be using the east-west runway for takeoffs and landings, although planes needing a longer runway will be permitted to take off toward the north on the north-south runway. During evening and nighttime hours, planes will use either the north-south or east-west runways in normal patterns, with runway choice depending upon wind direction & speed and the volume of air traffic.

You can view the entire update here. And click here to see my earlier post on this project and how it’s impacting College Avenue traffic in the next year.

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November 10, 2009 · 5:03 pm

Some Great Economic News for the South Shore

In these tough economic times, it’s nice to get any type of good news when it comes to job creation … and it’s even sweeter when the news has such a direct impact on the South Shore.

As you’ve probably heard, Republic Airlines is moving up to 800 jobs to Oak Creek and Milwaukee under a plan announced Tuesday. That includes the creation of approximately 100 call center jobs and another 300 flight crew positions added to Mitchell International as Republic expands Midwest Airlines.

You can learn more in the Journal Sentinel and Business Journal.

It’s been difficult to see all of the Midwest Airlines job and service cuts of recent years, cuts that have personally impacted a number of people I know. So it’s great to see Republic make this investment in the area, this county and this state.

In a statement, Republic CEO Bryan Bedford personally thanked “Gov. Doyle and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for making Milwaukee such a great place to do business.”

The Milwaukee 7 also deserves its share of credit for making this happen.

Said Bedford: “This was a jobs contest between Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Denver.”

And Milwaukee — and the South Shore — won.

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November 5, 2009 · 11:29 pm

The Road to College Avenue and Airport Runway Improvements

If you’ve driven College Avenue west of Pennsylvania in the past month or so, you’ve seen the odd looping configuration of the road as you approach the north-south runway at Mitchell International.

Well, get used to it … and then get ready for a detour starting next May.

The road project is part of the Mitchell International runway safety area improvement project, a multi-year effort that will bring the safety areas for each of the airport’s two main runways into compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

It’s a worthy undertaking.

Thousand-foot extensions will be added to the east-west and north-south runways. The north-south project affects College, and South Milwaukee and 4th District commuters.

Two main improvements are planned. 

First, a 640-foot-long tunnel will be constructed on College so that the runway safety area can span the road without interfering with traffic. Second, College will be expanded to four lanes from Pennsylvania to Howell Avenue.

The project includes multiple phases. Here’s the plan:

  • The current configuration, in which traffic is being sent on that looping bypass road to allow for construction of the tunnel, will remain into May of 2010.
  • From next May to December of next year, College will close completely to allow for the widening and tunnel construction. Traffic will be detoured around the airport.
  • From December 2010 until sometime in 2011 — the mailing I received does not specify when — traffic will again be routed on the looping bypass road until  the tunnel is completed.

In other words, have an alternate route in mind for the next 18 months or so.

You can learn more about the project here. And click here to learn how the runway projects will impact airport noise levels.

Also, check out this blog post to learn more about the College Avenue bridge at Interstate 94. It’s reopening this weekend.

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