MOUNT PLEASANT - Bill Willard, manager of Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport, watched with excitement as a bulldozer dug into the ground Monday afternoon.
In just a few months, a new 96-by-83-foot hangar will be standing there next to the airport's office building.
"We lost seven parking places, but I would much rather have this hangar," Willard said Monday.
After at least two years of planning, ground was broken on the project within the last week. Once completed, the airport will be able to accommodate larger airplanes as well as increase capacity.
"It is the first real big step to take the airport to the next level," Willard said.
Willard said the new hangar will increase traffic at the airport. He has already had to turn away larger planes because they could not fit in the main hangar.
The main hangar at the airport has a clearance of 15 feet 8 inches and is 66 feet by 80 feet. The two-fold door also takes up some additional space.
Clearance on the new hangar will be 24-feet high and will have a sliding door. There will be a 15-foot high maintenance door on the other side of the building. There will also be a hallway connecting the hangar with the airport's office.
"It will benefit the industrial parks and the community," Willard said. "We have a beautiful business class airport."
The total project costs about $925,000. Multiple state grants are being used to pay for half of the project while the airport is responsible to match the funding. The airport is making its payments with a loan through the county.
The general contractor on the project is Dolan Construction, Reading, while Albarell Electric Inc., Pottsville, is taking care of the electrical work and Sycamore Mechanical Contractors, Phoenixville, is responsible for mechanical work.
The contractors involved in the project have about 90 days to complete construction. Unless weather delays the work, the hangar will be completed in July.