Dalton Airport Repaving should bring larger jets

DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Dalton is shutting down their airport for a few weeks to make some improvements.

They are repaving the main runway for the first time in 35 years.

But when it is finished, the new runway will be able to handle larger corporate jets.

“Ultimately, (the runway) will be three inches thicker than it was before,” said Airport Manager Andrew Wiersma. “So it will have a much stronger weight bearing capacity when it’s done which will allow us to service the larger, heavier jets in the future.”

Wiersma says the asphalt has lasted longer than predicted, but it was time.

“When you get into the upper range of your corporate sized jets like your Gulfstream 550s and 650s, they were just over the edge of our weight limit before,” Wiersma said. “So, it just makes it more comfortable for those guys (with bigger jets) to come in and take on large loads of fuel which helps fuel sales and everything else.”

Next year, airport officials plan on improving lighting and electrical facilities.