The Chehalis-Centralia Airport is working toward completing a fencing project; workers are installing chain-link fence on the southeast and south side of the airport near Northwest Louisiana Avenue and Northwest Airport Road.
Airport Manager Allyn Roe said workers are installing about 4,000 feet of fence, beginning behind Kmart and working south around the south side of the airport to the west side. He noted the airport made an effort to erect the fence inside the property line to maintain a “park-like setting” and will do so inside the levee when it completes the fence in the future on the north and northwest side of the airport.
“We held it back 30 feet to accommodate the walking trail,” Roe said.
Roe said the fencing project, which began on the east side of the airport, started around 2005. The fence is not required by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, but is recommended under its guidelines.
The airport is eligible for $150,000 per year in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration; it is using $60,000 in federal funding for this particular project. Since the project began, Roe said the 7-foot tall fence has cost between $15 and $20 per linear foot to install.
“It’s expensive, so we can do only a little bit at a time,” he said.
Roe said the FAA makes the funding available by a tax it imposes on airline tickets.
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Adam Pearson: (360) 807-8208
