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September 7, 2006

Block Island can keep runway open during construction

BLOCK ISLAND -- The Rhode Island Airport Corporation announced today it has reached an agreement with the Town of New Shoreham on a plan to keep a turf runway open as construction at Block Island Airport gets under way this fall.

RIAC had planned to close the airport to all flights during the repaving of its runway from Oct. 11 through Nov. 21. Block Island health and rescue personnel vehemently opposed the closure, saying it would cut off critical access to the mainland.

Islanders rely on New England Airlines -- the island’s only regular air service -- for everything from delivering medical prescriptions and Chinese food to hurrying pregnant women off to the mainland to give birth.

Under the agreement, New England Airlines will run an afternoon and morning flight each day, with all construction activity halted during arrivals and takeoffs, said Patti Goldstein, spokeswoman for RIAC. The town will provide a van to transport passengers between the terminal and the aircraft.

Read more in tomorrow's Journal and on projo.com...

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 6:22 PM | Permalink

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