TOMS RIVER – The Ocean County Airport will soon get a new hanger building thanks to members of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The Freeholders recently awarded a contract for the construction of the new T-Hangar at the airport located at Route 530 in Berkeley Township. The facility, over time will pay for itself.
Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari said, “whether it is for public safety or to help our economic efforts, the Ocean County Airport serves an important purpose in Ocean County.”
Vicari, who serves as liaison to the airport added, “this project will answer a growing need at this facility. In addition, the project will essentially pay for itself through rental, service and operating fees collected by the county from aircraft owners.”
The most qualified and lowest of six bids received was Gary Kubiak & Son of Robbinsville for $2.8 million. Gary Kubiak & Son also built an Ocean County-owned T-Hangar building in 1999.
The project is set to be completed by the summer of 2021 and construction is scheduled to begin on the hangar in October.
The new hangar will consist of a pre-engineered steel building on a concrete foundation, reconstruction of one existing taxi lane, construction of an all new taxi lane, and storm water improvements including an expansion of the existing detention basin.
It will be approximately 20,000 square feet and consist of 12 units, as well as feature two large end-units, which may be used as helicopter pods.
Vicari said, “this project was designed in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Airport Layout Plan and the 2012 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the County and the New Jersey Pinelands Commission.”
The MOA allows up to 12 T-Hangar sites to be developed on the airfield, all perpendicular to the Crosswind Runway. This will be the fifth T-Hangar site at the Ocean County Airport.
“These hangars are very important to the airport. Many visitors to Ocean County own second homes here and are looking for a place to keep their private planes,” Vicari said.
Vicari added the airport, located on 420 acres in Berkeley Township about five miles west of Toms River, provides a central location for a host of public safety services and accommodates various aircrafts.
Some tenants include the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Civil Air Patrol, the Ocean Air Support Squadron and emergency medical transport.
“This airpark is an important element of the county’s transportation program and plays a key role in our long term economic development. The Ocean County Airport is a vital part of our future. It is essential the facilities be kept current and at up-to-date standards,” Vicari said.
Vicari said much of the airport improvements have been funded by federal and state money, including all pending projects for which funds are encumbered, the airport has seen just under $39 million in total capital improvement funding.
Of that funding, $29.4 million was provided through grants from the FAA, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and other entities.
Vicari said, “this new hangar will not result in additional air traffic. It will provide a place for airplanes that are on the waiting list for a hangar spot.”
