A major aviation improvement project decades in the making is now complete at the Georgetown County Airport.
The airport has officially finished reconstruction of its secondary runway, Runway 11/29, restoring a critical piece of infrastructure that strengthens safety, reliability and long-term economic opportunity at the airport.
Originally constructed by the military during World War II, Runway 11/29 had never been resurfaced prior to this project and had developed significant deterioration over time, including sinkholes and surface failures that created safety concerns for pilots and airport operations. Airport Manager Jim Taylor said the newly reconstructed runway represents a major advancement for the airport.
“The biggest reason is safety,” Taylor said. “It now gives us a great crosswind runway. About 40% of the time, the winds favor that runway, and you always want to land and take off into the wind. It also eliminates the risk of aircraft encountering sinkholes, which had become a concern on the old runway.”
The project also reduces ongoing maintenance costs. Prior to reconstruction, airport crews were frequently required to patch failing areas of pavement and address sinkholes caused by the runway’s original construction, which included asphalt laid over tree stumps and roots.
Beyond safety and maintenance improvements, the upgraded runway plays an important role in the airport’s future growth. Taylor said the runway will support Georgetown County’s long-term vision for aviation-related economic development by improving access for larger aircraft and strengthening operations within the Aviation Economic Development Area.
The runway was opened for use during the week of Thanksgiving following a soft opening, restoring full crosswind capability to the airport and marking the successful completion of the $6.3 million project.
Runway 11/29 was the first secondary runway in South Carolina to be accepted for reconstruction through a specialized funding initiative from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, which made the project financially feasible and allowed Georgetown County to address a long-standing safety need. With the project now complete, the Georgetown County Airport continues to build on decades of steady improvement, supporting general aviation, business travel and regional economic development while ensuring safe and reliable operations for years to come.
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