Accomack County Airport Secures Nearly $1.5M for Taxiway, Lighting Upgrades

(Accomack County, Virginia) Accomack County Airport has secured $1,461,000 in federal funding to support construction of a new taxiway and installation of new airfield lighting, a package announced on August 20, 2025 as part of a statewide investment in airport infrastructure. U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said the award comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration under the Airport Infrastructure Grants and the Airport Improvement Program. The same announcement included more than $48 million for 18 Virginia airports, placing the Eastern Shore airfield within a broader regional effort to improve safety and capacity.

County leaders have already moved to accept the grant. The Accomack County Board of Supervisors approved acceptance and scheduled a required public hearing for August 20, 2025, because the award is large enough to trigger a budget amendment. The county’s local share is capped at $15,380, or 1% of the project, with the remainder covered by federal and state funds. That small match limits pressure on the local budget while allowing the airport to carry out work that has been on the capital plan for years.

Airport managers plan to direct the funding to two core needs. First, the construction of a new taxiway will let aircraft exit the active runway sooner and wait outside the runway area. For airfields without a full parallel taxiway, this change lowers the chance of runway blockages and improves safety during busy periods.

Second, new airfield lighting will improve visibility for pilots and ground crews, especially at night or during poor weather, when clear guidance is vital. Together, the upgrades aim to reduce runway incursions and keep planes moving predictably on the ground.

Funding package and local oversight

The Federal Aviation Administration administers the grants through the long-running Airport Improvement Program, which supports safety, capacity, and security projects at public-use airports. Readers can review program details on the FAA’s official site at https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the August 20 funding bundle directs more than $48 million to airports across the Commonwealth, reflecting sustained federal investment in airside safety and long-term planning.

Locally, Supervisor Robert Crockett moved to accept the award and set the hearing required for the budget amendment, since the grant amount exceeds 1% of expected county expenditures. The county expects the airport upgrades to appear in the next capital budget cycle, with construction likely to begin in late 2025 or early 2026 once engineering, bidding, and contracting are complete.

The Virginia Department of Aviation has also backed related work, including $63,000 for the Runway 2-1 Turnaround Construction Project. Earlier this year, the Virginia Aviation Board approved more than $4.1 million for 25 projects at 16 airports, including Accomack County Airport, signaling steady support at the state level.

Accomack County Airport (MFV) serves as a key gateway for Virginia’s Eastern Shore. It supports business flights, agricultural operations, and charter activity that tie local employers to larger markets and help move people and goods when time matters. Past projects at MFV have included runway rehabilitation, apron expansion, and obstruction removal. Those efforts set the stage for the new round of safety and efficiency upgrades funded in August.

Safety, operations, and the path to construction

Airport engineers and pilots often rank taxiway and lighting work among the most effective steps a small regional airport can take to improve safety. A dedicated taxiway route helps crews clear the runway quickly after landing, cuts down on back-taxi time, and reduces the chance of misunderstandings between air and ground traffic.

Modern lighting improves situational awareness during dusk, night, and low-visibility operations. In combination, these changes support more consistent flow, which can allow an airport to handle more flights and, in some cases, larger aircraft during peak periods.

Key takeaway: These upgrades aim to reduce runway incursions, improve ground movement predictability, and enhance safety during low-visibility operations.

Officials laid out a clear sequence to deliver the project:

1. Grant acceptance by the Board of Supervisors and scheduling of the public hearing.
2. Public hearing on August 20, 2025 to consider the budget amendment tied to the federal award.
3. Board approval of the budget amendment to formally add federal funds to the county’s spending plan.
4. Detailed engineering and design for the taxiway and lighting systems.
5. Competitive bidding and contractor selection.
6. Construction start, targeted for late 2025 or early 2026, pending contracting and seasonal conditions.
7. Final inspection and certification before the new taxiway and lighting enter service.

The county’s capped match—just $15,380—is a central point for local leaders, who have stressed the low financial burden on taxpayers compared with the size of the safety and capacity gains. With most costs covered by federal and state sources, the project offers a high return for the community’s contribution.

Local impacts and broader context

For businesses and farms on the Eastern Shore, reliable air access can shorten trips for parts, equipment, and charter teams. While Accomack County Airport is a general aviation facility, its role in supporting local operations is clear. Better ground flow and lighting mean fewer delays, more predictable scheduling, and improved safety margins during non-daylight hours.

Those changes matter to aircraft owners and operators, and they also ripple outward to the county’s economy.

The upgrade fits into a pattern of steady modernization at MFV:

• Runway rehabilitation that improved surface condition and extended service life
• Apron expansion to increase aircraft parking and support vehicle space
• Obstruction removal to improve approach paths and reduce risks around the airfield

The new taxiway segment and lighting continue that strategy: fix the basics that keep planes moving safely and efficiently, and build capacity for future growth.

Looking ahead, county and airport officials expect to pursue more infrastructure projects as funding allows, including additional runway rehabilitation and apron work that keep the airfield aligned with FAA standards. Federal and state partners are likely to remain key to that plan. Senators Warner and Kaine have pushed for continued investment and have backed reauthorization of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has supported major transportation projects across Virginia.

Next steps and timeline

For residents following the process, the August 20, 2025 public hearing marks the next public milestone. After that, the focus shifts to engineering, environmental review where required, and contracting.

Construction timelines at airfields can vary due to materials, bidding windows, and the need to keep the runway open as much as possible during work. Even so, county leaders say the funding package positions Accomack County Airport to begin building soon after the design and procurement steps are complete.

Summary of project goals:

• Make operations safer through better taxi routing and lighting
• Keep aircraft moving on a clear, predictable ground path
• Support the local economy by reducing delays and improving reliability

With $1,461,000 in FAA support and a small local match, the county is using national programs to solve local needs. That approach has already delivered results at MFV, and this round of work continues that momentum with targeted, safety-first projects that should serve the Eastern Shore for years to come.