Airport’s Second Runway Restoration Nearing Completion

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Recent updates at Anderson Regional Airport reflect a commitment to both infrastructure improvement and community engagement, as officials press ahead with a major runway reconstruction and expand public amenities on the grounds.

The airport’s secondary runway—originally paved in 1966—has become the centerpiece of current revitalization efforts. Airport Manager Brett Garrison announced that this project marks a total reconstruction, a rarity among peer facilities in the region such as Spartanburg, Greenwood, and Aiken, which have lost their secondary runways in recent years. The restoration was made possible by a grant from the state Aeronautics agency. Completion is expected by the end of December.

Garrison said that maintaining a second runway provides critical flexibility for pilots, especially when wind conditions shift or routine maintenance is underway.

“When an accident happens or maintenance is required, the airport doesn’t have to shut down,” said Garrison. “Companies and people can use the second runway to take off and land.”

Garrison, a veteran pilot with extensive experience in both domestic and international airports, underscored that such options are key for safety and efficiency.

Public spaces are also receiving attention. The new playground, according to Garrison, has quickly become a daily destination for local families, with children regularly on the equipment every morning and afternoons seeing high activity. Expansion is already planned: a second phase will add bathrooms, a long-awaited improvement for visiting families.

These updates signal Anderson Regional Airport’s dual focus on operational reliability and public accessibility, ensuring the facility remains a vital resource for regional aviation and the local community alike.

The upgrades at the airport also are important to economic development, said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns.

“We know how often that first quality flies in here and Arthrex and with other companies flying here on a regular basis, I hate to steal Hugh Oldham's line:  To a large degree, the Anderson Regional Airport is our front porch when people come in,” said Burns. “It’s also good when you're recruiting industry which often asks: ‘Where could I land?’ You tell them they can land at the Anderson Regional Airport, which is an instrument landing airport, and it makes all the difference in the world in the type of quality companies you attract.”