Skip to main content

Today's K.I. Sawyer a model for redevelopment

Date Posted: September 2 2005

- Many communities around the nation are distressed about the latest round of military base closings that are currently on the Pentagon's front burner.

But what has happened at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base is a great example of how a major military base can be re-used for the general population.

Now Marquette International Airport, the former military base is slowly being transformed into a growing regional transportation hub. The latest construction project at the airport, which is nearing completion, is an $8.2 million multi-use building that will house aircraft rescue and fire-fighting, as well as snow removal equipment storage, maintenance and repair.

"Sawyer is an excellent example of what can happen when a community gets behind the revitalization of a former military air base," said Sawyer Airport Manager Keith Kaspari. "This facility has really been a crown jewel for the Marquette area."

Located on 1,700 acres, Sawyer came into being with the signing of a U.S. government lease in 1955. Two years later, the facility's runway was complete and the base temporarily hosted F-102 aircraft from Kinross AFB in Sault Ste. Marie. An F-101 "Voodoo" squadron became operational at the base in 1959 when the runway was extended to 12,300 feet - one of the longest in North America.

With the long runway, Sawyer later hosted squadrons of KC-135 air refueling tankers and B-52 bombers.

With the end of the Cold War, Sawyer and numerous other military bases were slated to be closed. The last aircraft assigned to Sawyer were six T-37 trainers. The last B-52 left the base in November 1994, and in August 1995, the base was deactivated.

Community leaders saw Sawyer as a better option for airport growth than the existing Negaunee Airport. By September 1999, a new terminal building was completed at Sawyer, and over the years the building trades have provided their skills to improve numerous hangars and other facilities at the redeveloped airport.

Today, the airport is served by American Eagle, Embraer Air, Midwest Air, and Northwest's Mesaba. The facility employs 225.

Kaspari said construction work started on the new rescue/maintenance facility early last year. Completion is expected at the end of this month.

"It's a pretty straightforward facility," Kaspari said. "The new building will allow us to consolidate airport fire apparatus and snow removal that are in four separate buildings, into one, which should really save us a lot of money on utility bills." He said the new building will include a welding shop, safety equipment and the capacity for steam cleaning. The building's upper level will host training and a command post.

Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) helped win a $4.7 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to partially fund the project.

"The FAA grant for Sawyer International will allow major improvements to the airport's rescue and firefighting response times," he said when the grant money was awarded. "These projects could not have been done without federal assistance, and I am very pleased that the funding has come through."

The building trades, general contractor Premeau Construction and its subcontractors "have been excellent, they have really done some outstanding work for us," Kaspari said. 

THE LENGTHLY 12,300-foot runway at Sawyer International Airport near Marquette. The airport has been the site of significant construction activity over the past few years.
LEVELING A trench assembly is Ty Rosten of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 506 and J & N Plumbing. Ty was working at the Sawyer International Airport's new aircraft rescue, fire-fighting and snow removal facility. 
Photo by Jerry Bielicki