JACKSON, MS

An old soldier gets a fresh look

Neel-Schaffer was contracted by the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority to provide engineering design and construction phase services for a rehabilitation project for Runway 11-29 at Hawkins Field, the oldest airport in Jackson, MS.

Services for this $1.3 million project included a comprehensive power cleaning of the runway, removal and replacement of all joint sealants, replacement of damaged concrete slabs, new runway lighting, and new runway pavement markings.

Built in 1928, the general aviation airport now serves mainly private cargo and private business clients, but during World War II it was designated as the Jackson Army Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces Flying Training Command as a flying training airfield.

Runway 11-29 is 150 feet wide and has 3,431 feet of usable runway length. It saw limited use for several years before being closed in October 2017 to begin this project, which was finished in August 2018.

A total of 14,000 square feet of concrete was replaced, and nearly 100,000 LF of joint sealants were removed and replaced.

The rehabilitation of Runway 11-29 gives the airport two working runways and clears the way for the temporary closure and rehabilitation of Runway 16-34. Neel-Schaffer has been contracted to design rehab services for 16-34, and that work is expected to begin in 2019.