Near Half a Million Dollar Project Involving Bridgeport, NCWV Airport, State Coming to Jerry Dove Drive
By Jeff Toquinto on February 19, 2025
The Benedum Airport Authority signed off on a potential agreement that will set the stage for a nearly half million-dollar traffic upgrade along Jerry Dove Drive that will improve traffic flow once the new terminal building is open for business.
On Tuesday, the Authority (the governing body of the North Central West Virginia Airport) gave the greenlight for a project installing a traffic signal at the intersection of the access road to the new 50,000 square foot terminal. the grounds of the West Virginia Aerotech Park and Jerry Dove Drive, or State Route 279.
According to NCWV Airport Deputy Director Shawn Long, the project is expected to cost $425,000. Now, the matter needs to be agreed to by the City of Bridgeport who will also assist with the cost of the project and additional funds related to its future use.
The West Virginia Division of Highways has already signed off on the signal work. At this point, the matter just needs a thumbs up from Bridgeport City Council. Mayor Andy Lang, a member of the Airport Authority, said it should be on Council’s agenda at the Feb. 24 meeting.
“The (airport) needs to pay for that, and the city will then go into an agreement with the (Division) of Highways to do the lightbulbs, supply the electric, and general maintenance for the stoplight system,” said Lang. “… I’m going to talk to City Council on Monday at our regularly scheduled meeting to talk about us participating in the funding for the stoplight.”
For those who may think this process is unusual, it has been done before on signals across the state with government entities participating. As for the general maintenance, that is not unique to Bridgeport or any other municipality.
“We have multiple signals in the city where we pay for the electric, maintain the replacement of the lights, and any other general upkeep,”
he said. “Major upgrades, however, are handled by the state on any signal project.”
he said. “Major upgrades, however, are handled by the state on any signal project.”
NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock and Long, along with Lang, all said time is off the essence. During the meeting, Long said he anticipates work to begin soon.
“If everything is okay on (the City of Bridgeport’s end), it will come back to us to sign it and send it to the DOH. DOH has said once the notification that it’s a go, they will begin the design,” said Long. “They’ll handle everything from design through construction.”
Authority President David Hinkle and Lang praised Long and NCWV Airport Special Consultant Anthony “Boo” Bellotte for keeping the communication lines open with the WVDOH. He said it helped to “expedite” the project.
Rock, who praised Bridgeport’s support at the airport and projects along the property, did not have a timeline for completion. However, he anticipates the signal to be done when the new terminal is open so that there are “no safety issues” once the new building is operational.
“We’re still looking at May 15 to be operational, but the date is not as important as making sure everything is ready for a terminal that will 
serve the region for the next 50 years,” said Rock. “We’re expecting this particular signal project to be done in short order.”
serve the region for the next 50 years,” said Rock. “We’re expecting this particular signal project to be done in short order.”
More good news regarding the upcoming opening of the terminal involved the Authority approving a $296,000 bid from Capitol Business Interiors out of Charleston. They were the lone qualifying bid to provide furnishings to the building. Long said the furnishings are largely for the first and second floors, where public seating and the passenger holding area – including chargers within the seats in those sections – will be situated.
Long said the airport saved more than six figures on furniture thanks to working with Tracy Miller of the Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex. Miller got the airport to work with the West Virginia High Technology Founation out of Fairmont and their President/CEO Jim Estep as they were looking at removing furniture from their facility that he said “fit in nicely” with the new terminal.
Construction of the new terminal — a 50,000-sq.-ft. facility featuring an expanded taxiway, an enlarged parking lot and ample build-ready land — began in April 2023. The new facility is scheduled to open to the public this summer.
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