New Haven Independent

Monday afternoon, Mayors John DeStefano and April Capone Almon and an entourage of officials kicked off an earth-moving operation to create the Runway Safety Area (RSA) above the present Dodge Avenue.

Click here to read Len Honeyman’s story detailing the agreement.

The actual work on this northern RSA began last week, said the airport’s director, Tim Larson. The plan includes the diversion of Tuttle and Morris Creek (they currently cut a diagonal across the future RSA) into an underground culvert at the northern end; then Dodge Avenue will be diverted north around the new 500 by 1000 foot RSA; and, finally, the RSA will be paved, using the dirt being excavated.

Both mayors reaffirmed their accord and hailed a new era of cooperation. They prophesied a future Tweed that would be a business plus for the city and region while protecting the quality of life of neighbors.

An indication of that, said Larson, is Dodge Avenue. Most affected by the plan, Dodge will likely be kept open during all or most of the construction, a definite boon to local residents. Larson said the several hundred homeowners abutting the new construction area had been sent letters and will be regularly encouraged to participate in community meetings as the work goes forward.

DeStefano called the project’s timing was fortunate given the looming cascade of federal stimulus dollars. “This is just the kind of regional growth type of project that is attractive to the state and to the federal government. I’m confident that future funding will be there for this because this is the right project at the right time.”

Nearly all the $10 million cost of the creation of the RSAs (the southern one is complete) is being paid for through federal monies.

East Haven’s Almon said the recent peace agreement she inked with DeStefano offers her constituents more say on the airport’s board and, most importantly, a sense of where Tweed’s future direction.

DeStefano would not comment on whether, as a result of the accord, carriers have expressing interest in using Tweed. “Now’s a time to build,” he said, “and to use what we have here at Tweed in a safer fashion.”

Both mayors agreed that the future economy and particularly the airline economy would dictate if and how many new carriers might be attracted to the airport. Larson was more optimistic.

At a recent networking meeting of airport managers in Fort Worth, he said, his colleagues were thrilled that the bickering had ceased between the towns. “We’ve had very preliminary talks with U.S. Air to see if they would increase their service to Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Currently the only route flown out of Tweed is U.S. Air’s six daily flights to Philadelphia.

Larson said that last week an organ donor — a bone marrow case — had flown into Tweed. “The hospitals in the area are planning on having us here, and the Coast Guard uses our facility for training, to say nothing of future business uses.”

Also participating in the love-fest at the beginning of the new era of Tweed were New England’s only female airport manager and assistant manager (posing with Larson and project engineer Glen Altimari), Lori Hoffman (on the right) and Diane Jackson.

The project is being implemented by Empire Paving of North Haven. Work is expected to be completed by the fall or end of the year.