Sen. Rockefeller, Rep. Rahall Cut Airport Ribbon on Runway at Tri State Airport

With no planes flying in, an unusual event took place instead it was a caravan of about 100 people traveling in cars and small busses escorted by police traveling down the runway Tuesday afternoon.

 A podium was set up, chairs, and a ribbon along with the American Flag and West Virginia State Flag supported by two law enforcement officers so they would not blow over from the gusting  winds.

Speaking were Tri-State Airport Director Jerry Brienza, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, W.Va. Speaker of the House Richard Thompson, and U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall.

Many  people lined up behind the ribbon for the official ribbon cutting that made the runway officially 7,016 feet long and the longest commercial runway in West Virginia.   Lewisburg falls to second in West Virginia at 7,004 feet.  The Charleston runway is 6,300 feet.

The longest West Virginia runway is in Martinsburg with a length  of 7,815 feet.   The control tower is funded from the Department of the Air Force and is used by military aircraft from the 167th  Airlift Group and has 87 private aircraft.  

The $11.2 million dollar project will allow larger airplanes to fly into Tri-State Airport and allows airplanes to take on more fuel so they can fly further. Funding came through stimulus dollars.

 Following the ceremony a reception was held in hanger number 3.