Hyde County Airport
“The Hyde County Airport is a vital asset for our county, especially in terms of economic development,” says Kris Cahoon Noble, Hyde County Manager. “Our tourism, particularly around hunting lands, is a major driver of our local economy, and this airport plays a crucial role in supporting that. Most of our tourism activity occurs during hunting season, from November to February, and having this airport is important during that time. Beyond tourism, the airport is also a critical resource for emergency management. Given the county’s vast geographic size and distance from other resources, the airport provides us with a strategic advantage in responding to natural disasters quickly and efficiently.”
Because of the airport’s significance to the area and its many years of usage, it was in need of some upgrades. Funding became available and Barnhill was selected in July 2023 to complete this work. Construction began in August 2023. The scope of work included turnarounds at each end of the runway as well as a longer runway to allow for larger aircraft and increased safety standards. A PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) lighting system was also incorporated. This is a visual aid to help pilots maintain the correct approach angle during landing and is especially useful at smaller airports where advanced navigation systems may be less common.
When the job kicked off, our teams performed 15,000 cubic yards of undercut and hauled in 30,000 yards of borrow material to backfill the undercut and bring the site up to finished grade. To allow airport operations to continue during hunting season, the teams shut the project down from November until the Spring after the turnarounds and PAPI system work had been completed. This was important for the airport, the county and its tourists at a peak time of year.
“Barnhill went above and beyond by breaking the scope of work into manageable pieces so we could maintain our hunting season. That was critical for the folks that enjoy coming to hunt during the waterfowl season,” said Kris. Weather was of course another hurdle to jump as it is many times in our line of work. Right after the team finished paving, we were hit with ten straight days of rain, delaying the grading of the shoulders, sod and electrical. Being on top of the schedule and tight coordination was the key here.
Our subcontractors and partners on this job were top-notch. Timmons Group took care of the surveying, Hasco handled the crack sealing and pavement markings, Delta Contracting knocked out the profile milling, and Sadler Landscaping completed the erosion control items, such as silt fencing and seeding. Southeast Site Services handled the electrical work, including the crucial PAPI system. Our GPS Department also helped us out tremendously. The engineer, Talbert & Bright has been awesome to work with, and specifically Mr. Steve Bright. They’ve been engineering successful airport solutions for over thirty years so we knew partnering with them would mean teaming up with the experts. Both parties met often to plan logistics and any time there was a hiccup, everyone would intentionally pause, identify, correct and move forward. Every one of these teams brought their A-game, making sure the job ran smoothly and was completed to the highest standard. It was a true team effort from start to finish.
“Barnhill has always been a really trusted contractor in the Northeast-North Carolina area,” said Kris. Specifically for Hyde County, we know that when Barnhill gets the job, we will get a product that will last without constant maintenance. We’ve done lots of work together in the past and really just enjoy our relationship. Management is always great with communication and staying on top of things between what’s happening on the ground and what the airport consultants are looking for.”
We were fortunate to have so many great working relationships on this job and that always leads to success. The team has pumped out 15,000 tons of P-401 airfield mix to complete this job. Hyde County Airport Manager, Jane Hodges, shared that for many years pilots complained that the runway wasn’t long enough. Her hopes are that these upgrades will make it easier on the pilots and bring in a few more pilots that couldn’t land before due to the shorter runway. “We are hoping for increased traffic and happier pilots.”
We’re proud to see the Hyde County Airport ready to better serve its community—from welcoming more pilots to supporting vital economic and emergency activities. The teamwork, dedication, and strong relationships behind this effort have ensured that these upgrades will make a lasting impact for years to come.