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<img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/flycou.png" alt="Columbia regional Airport" width="147" height="78" style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px; ">
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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;"><strong>Columbia Regional Airport</strong><br />
11300 South Airport Drive<br>
Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">December 10, 2021</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Mike Parks
<br />Airport Manager
<br />Columbia Regional Airport
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.817.5064
<br />Michael.Parks@CoMo.gov
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<br />Sydney Olsen
<br />Public Information Officer
<br />City Manager's Office
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7438
<br />Sydney.Olsen@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Extension of runway at Columbia Regional Airport complete</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Construction of the runway extension at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) was finished Friday, Dec. 10, and is now open for use. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the extension, the length of the primary runway has gone from 6,500 to 7,400 feet. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday’s milestone marks the completion of </span><a href="https://www.flycou.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Columbia-Regional-Airport-Master-Plan-2009-Compressed.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">COU’s Master Plan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to improve the airport. The Master Plan, a year-by-year plan to support the growth of COU, was published in 2009. It included a proposal to extend the airport’s two runways. The primary runway was completed Friday, and the crosswind runway was extended from 4,400 to 5,500 feet in 2017. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The extension will allow for larger aircrafts to use the runway and provide a longer distance for planes to land and take off during inclement weather. It </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">will also alleviate concerns about weight restrictions during extreme heat in the summer.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While completing this extension, the old incandescent lights were replaced with energy efficient LED lights, which alone will save approximately 75 percent in runway energy costs. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The runway extension will reduce the chance of delayed or canceled flights during winter weather events," said Mike Parks, Columbia Regional Airport manager. "This is an exciting time for Columbia as we prepare for the new terminal to be completed next summer."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new terminal will be larger and feature new amenities, such as a Service Animal Relief Area (SARA), restaurant, mother’s room and quiet room. It is on schedule to open during summer 2022. </span></p>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Learn more about the terminal at </span><a href="https://www.flycou.com/columbia-regional-airport-terminal-project/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://www.flycou.com/columbia-regional-airport-terminal-project/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="https://gis.gocolumbiamo.com/CityView/?find=11300 S. Airport Dr." target="_blank">11300 S. Airport Dr.</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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