Columbus airport hosts final travelers before major runway reconstruction

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Many of those looking for a flight out of the Columbus Airport in the coming months will be finding themselves out of luck, as least for the time being.

According to the Columbus Airport (CSG), planned runway construction, set to begin Aug. 5, will press pause on all “commercial, military and large aviation operations.”

The day before groundbreaking begins Tuesday, travelers voiced worries about what the closure could mean.

“I think there’s probably going to be a lot of concern for the community as a whole, especially our military. I think that’s going to impact them heavily,” Martha Madaris said.

Madaris was returning from a trip to Miami with her husband.

For the past 15 years, the pair has preferred flying out of Columbus when they can, due to its convenience. Now, they’ll have to make the drive to Atlanta, at least until construction is over.

Airport representatives estimate the project will take just over 100 days and about $24 million dollars to complete. CSG announced the Aug. 5 groundbreaking last month, saying that a geotechnical assessment indicated a complete runway overhaul was needed.