MDOT awards $152K grant to West Michigan Regional Airport for safety, winter upgrades
Winter operations and night navigation at West Michigan Regional Airport are getting a major upgrade, thanks to a $152,539 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
HOLLAND — Winter operations and night navigation at West Michigan Regional Airport are getting a major upgrade, thanks to a $152,539 grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The funding supports two critical safety updates: high-visibility repainting for Runway 08/26 and the purchase of the airport's first dedicated plow truck.
For an airfield supporting thousands of corporate, instructional, and general aviation flights annually, maintaining visual clarity and clear pavement is vital to year-round operations.
High-visibility upgrades for night, all-weather landings
Seasonal wear and routine winter ice-clearing had significantly degraded the airfield's existing paint lines. The restoration project will repaint the centerline, threshold, aiming points, edge lines and runway designators.
To maximize night safety, crews will embed retroreflective glass beads into the paint, creating crisp, highly visible guidance for pilots during nighttime approaches and low-visibility weather.
"Runway markings are an important visual reference on takeoff and landing, and ours have worn down," said Matt Neyens, airport manager. "Restoring them is basic maintenance that keeps the airfield working the way pilots expect."
Work on the runway markings is slated for completion by spring, with airport officials noting it may wrap up earlier depending on weather conditions.
Fleet expansion expands winter clearance capability
The second component of the grant delivers the airport's first plow truck — a crucial addition to its ground maintenance fleet ahead of the West Michigan winter.
The plow will operate alongside a high-capacity snow broom acquired last season. While the broom handles light, dry snowfall across active taxiways and runways, the heavy-duty plow will clear deep, wet accumulation and packed snow. It will also maintain open access along hangar rows, aprons, and tenant operational zones.
Having both machines on-site gives the airport dual-vehicle snow-clearing capability for the first time, eliminating reliance on a single piece of equipment for all conditions.
MDOT's Office of Aeronautics administers the program to assist public-use airfields statewide with vital infrastructure, maintenance and equipment costs.
"Michigan's general aviation airports serve communities, businesses and emergency operations across the state, and keeping them in good condition takes steady investment," said Bryan Budds, director of MDOT’s Office of Aeronautics. "This program is how we help local airports fund the work that keeps their airfields safe."
Jointly owned by the City of Holland, the City of Zeeland and Park Township, West Michigan Regional Airport serves as a key economic gateway for local commerce, flight training, and regional corporate transit.
— Submitted by the West Michigan Regional Airport. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
