“Our airports are a vital part of Massachusetts’s transportation network, linking residents, visitors, and businesses and spurring economic activity in their communities,” said Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Transportation Secretary and CEO. “On behalf of everyone in the community, I want to thank the 104th Fighter Wing and the airport management team for their determination and their ongoing work to bring this vision to life.”
“We congratulate the entire team at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport on this groundbreaking and look forward to supporting them in every way that we can in this endeavor,” MassDOT Aeronautics Administrator Jeff DeCarlo said. “The regional economic importance of Westfield-Barnes cannot be overstated, making this infrastructural upgrade a welcome development for the surrounding community.”
The $32 million project is the largest single investment in infrastructure improvement in the airport’s 100-year history, expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The project consists of three main components:
- Realigning and widening of Taxiway B South
- Realigning and widening of Taxiway E
- Reconstructing and expanding the South Arm Apron
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In addition to widening and realigning the taxiways, these changes will enhance the safety of aircraft operations by lowering the possibility of runway incursions at the Taxiway B South and Runway 15-33 intersection. The Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport is a significant transportation asset and economic engine for Western Massachusetts, supporting about 2,100 direct and indirect jobs, an annual economic output of $236 million, and serving business, corporate, emergency, military, and recreational flyers.
