Ted Johnson, executive director of PTIA, leans against the side of his car at the entrance to the new runway, which was dedicated on Saturday. SONNY HEDGECOCK | HPE
Airport officials, joined by Joe Stephens, FedEx managing director for Greensboro, Federal Aviation Administration regional administrator Doug Murphy and Congressman Howard Coble, held a dedication for PTIA’s newest runway on Saturday.
“The work that we’re celebrating is not the end but rather the beginning for PTIA,” said Henry Issacson, chairman of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority.
Construction of the runway was the last of three major projects – the building of the FedEx Corp. hub and the relocation of Bryan Boulevard were the other two – in the works at PTIA and completed this year. The runway officially opened in January.
“This infrastructure could be deemed the Triad’s field of dreams, ‘if you build it, they will come.’ These projects mean that we can build the economy,” Stephens said. “We worked hard with people in the community to better market the area and seek, attract, grow and retain new business with this new runway.”
Coble said this runway will have a statewide and national impact. It is also a direct link to our regional economy. “This runway, in my opinion, represents the future of the Piedmont Triad,” Coble said.
Before the dedication ceremony, a 5K run was held, and hundreds came out to run and walk on the new runway. Officials said $25,000 was raised for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. After the dedication ceremony, a group of paratroopers landed on the runway to form a large “23” in reference to the runway’s number – 5L-23R.
“You can build 9,000 feet of roadway anywhere in the country and when its completed you can go about 2 miles,” Murphy said. “But if you build a 9,000 foot runway you can go anywhere in the world.”
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