Sugar Land Regional Airport is set to see several changes beginning in 2027.
In a nutshell
At an Oct. 20 meeting, Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved a $39.21 million construction contract with Austin Bridge & Road Inc. and accepted $16.06 million in grants to reconstruct the runway at the Sugar Land Regional Airport.
Runway 17-35, the airport's only runway built in 1985, has reached the end of its useful life and relies on over 3,000 patches and daily maintenance to keep operating, Director of Aviation Mitchell Davies said. City staff have worked toward reconstruction for about 10 years.
“This is a huge milestone for us because we've been working on this project for a long time, so to have this turn into a construction contract and get closer to construction is really huge for us,” Davies said.
The details
The project will consist of four phases, including:
Phase one: removing the runway shoulder, installing drainage improvements and adding infrastructure for new airfield lighting
Phase two: reconstructing the south 1,000 feet of the runway and new airfield equipment
Phase three: reconstructing the major part of the runway
Phase four: building connecting roads to the runway, relocating roads surrounding the runway, grooving asphalt, adding permanent markings
The runway will fully close during phase three from Aug. 30, 2027 to Sept. 29, 2027 and other phases of construction will include nightly closures from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The council also approved a $2.53 million contract with Pape-Dawson, formerly known as KSA Engineers, to oversee the construction. Pape-Dawson has been part of the project since the study phase and will focus on material testing, construction administration and inspections.
The cost
The project is funded through $26.06 million in grants and $20.14 million in airport funds, but it does not use any property taxes, Davies said. The $16 million accepted at the Oct. 20 meeting added to the $10 million in grants the airport already had, he said.
City staff worked with U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, and U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, to push for federal grants in Congress, Fletcher said during public comment, and they secured an extra $2.8 million.
“Congress has the opportunity to fund our communities' priorities, but it takes partnerships across government to be able to actually do so," Fletcher said.
What else?
The council also approved an agreement with Lang Property Investments LLC for the design of a new hangar, which is a secure, weather-resistant storage place for aircraft, according to agenda documents.
The contract involves land surveying and engineering design, but it does not approve construction, according to agenda documents.
Looking ahead
Davies said construction on the runway is expected to start in early 2027 and finish by January 2028.
