Ocean County Airport (Credit: Google Maps)
Ocean County Airport, part of the Robert J. Miller Air Park property in Berkeley Township, will receive a new hangar and related improvements, mainly funded by state and federal grants.
The county freeholder board awarded a $2.8 million contract for the work to Gary Kubiak & Son, the same company that built an Ocean County-owned T-Hangar building in 1999. Construction is scheduled to begin on the hangar in October with a completion date of summer 2021.
The new T-Hangar building project 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. The new building 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.
The new hangar is the latest expansion and improvement for the airport, which also received a second, cross-wind runway in recent years. An agreement with the state Pinelands Commission allows 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 airport.
“These hangars are very important to the airport,” Freeholder Joseph Vicari said. “Many visitors to Ocean County own second homes here and are looking for a place to keep their private planes.”
The airport has also proven popular with law enforcement and emergency services.
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,” Vicari said. “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.”
The new hangar is not projected to increase actual air traffic in the area, officials said. The immediate goal to get hangar space for planes that are already on a waiting list.
