A short taxiway now under construction at Paine Field will provide better aircraft access to the Future of Flight museum and create a bigger stage for ceremonial deliveries of newly made Boeing jets.
The 1,000-foot taxiway will extend southwest from near the north end of the current main runway, airport deputy director Bill Dolan said.
A new parking area at the museum will be connected to the taxiway and have room for two Boeing 747 jets, he said.
The taxiway also will make it possible to extend a longer strip down the west side of the airport in the future if Boeing says it needs more room to park its aircraft, Dolan said.
The $5 million taxiway under construction has been planned since 2002, when the county-run airport completed a long-term plan for land use, Dolan said. About $3.5 million of the cost is being covered by a federal grant, said Bruce Goetz, airport supervisor of operations.
Work on the taxiway began about three weeks ago and is expected to be done by mid-October, Goetz said.
Boeing currently uses a tent at its taxiway on the northeast side of the main runway for delivery ceremonies, Dolan said.
The taxiway will make it much easier to get aircraft in flying condition to Future of Flight, museum spokeswoman Sandy Ward said.
Now, “they come in on big trucks over dirt roads,” she said.
With working aircraft able to taxi directly to the museum, Future of Flight will be able to rotate its exhibits more easily, Ward said.
Also, those flying private aircraft will find it more convenient to visit the museum.
“They can fly in and taxi over,” Ward said.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
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