Amid continued dismay from local leaders and community members, the Oregon Department of Aviation is preparing to extend the Aurora Airport runway. Meanwhile, airport business representatives are concerned about impacts to nearby properties.
The department’s preferred option, announced at an advisory committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, would extend the runway by 497 feet — something long opposed by Wilsonville city officials and community members around the airport. Further, it would shift Hubbard Highway 80 feet to the west and require 43 acres of property acquisition. West of the highway, 13 residential properties and four commercial properties would be acquired and approximately 237,000 square feet of existing hangar space along the south portion would be removed to accommodate the construction of a taxilane parallel to the runway and a vehicle service road. This plan would be finalized once the airport master planning process is complete.
The department estimated the changes, including the shift of Hubbard Highway, would cost $185 million. After a question from Wilsonville City Councilor Joann Linville on the financial responsibility of the Oregon Department of Transportation related to moving Hubbard Highway, David Miller, lead airport planner with Century West Engineering, said it has yet to be determined how costs will be split up. However he said it is likely that Federal Aviation Administration funding would be available to cover a majority of the costs to move Hubbard Highway. The aviation department is a local sponsor that would be responsible for a local match for federal funding, he said.