The U.S. House and U.S. Senate recently passed the 2024 federal budget that included $2.5 million for the realignment of New Ulm’s crosswind runway.

The crosswind realignment project has been on New Ulm’s radar for nearly 20 years but cost had prohibited the project.

City Engineer Joe Stadheim said the total cost of the realignment was $3.25 million, but with federal funds covering the majority of the cost, he said the city could find the remaining funds to complete it.

Safety is the top reason the realignment project. Currently, New Ulm’s airport has 94% wind coverage between it’s two runways. By moving the location of the crosswind runway and giving it an east/west alighment, the airport will have a wind coverage rate of 98%. This means aircrafts will be able to safely land at the airport under 98% of wind conditions. This is especially important for New Ulm’s airport that is heavily used by smaller fixed-wing and single-engine planes. Smaller aircraft are more susceptible to strong crosswinds. The new crosswind runway will make it easier for smaller crafts to land.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar toured New Ulm’s Municipal Airport Wednesday. From inside an airport hanger, CIty Engineer Joseph Stadheim points out for the Senator, where the new crosswind runway will be constructed.

Economics is another benefit for the project. Stadheim said many of the biggest users of the airport were local businesses; such as Christiansen Farms, 3M, SpecSys, Kraft and other Ag producers. Some businesses fly in and out of the airport every day.

The North Star Flight School also uses the airport regularly to practice take offs and landing. Having better wind coverage will greatly increase the flight school safety.

Klobuchar said a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) study showed New Ulm’s airport had a $5.6 million impact every years

Residential growth was another benefit of the project. There are several residential lots located in the current crosswind runway’s safety zone. These lots cannot be developed until the crosswind runway is moved.

Stadheim said there were at least six lots ready for development. Another 10 to 14 lots could be further developed.

Senator Amy Klobuchar paid a visit to New Ulm's Municipal Airport Wednesday. It was recently announced the city would receive $2.5 million in federal funding for realignment of the crosswind runway. (L to R) Bryan Christensen, North Star Airport Manager; Chris Place, North Star Senior Flight Instructor; Bryan Page, Mead & Hunt airport consultant; Joe Stadheim, New Ulm City Engineer; Chris Dalton, New Ulm City Manager; Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Andrea Boettger, New Ulm Council President and Les Schultz New Ulm City Councilor.

Klobuchar said more housing was an important part of the argument for new the runway. She acknowledged housing was an important concern in this area.

Stadheim said the city was very grateful for the federal funding. The crosswind runway project a longterm goal of the city for sometime.

Sen. Klobuchar said for some projects it can be difficult to secure federal funding, but in the case of the runway it was a relatively easy ask.

“This is actually a doable project with a base of need from Ag to Business,” Klobuchar said “and it is going to open up housing and improve safety.”

Page said much of the groundwork for the crosswind runway had already been completed. After the reevaluation, the city will need to acquire about 18 acres of land to relocate the crosswind runway. With this timeline, construction could start and be completed in 2025.

Stadheim said the city could hit the ground running on the lift station project as well. If the weather cooperates, the lift station installation could be done in 2024.