Washington Manassas Airport in Virginia has broken ground on a new air traffic control tower after approximately 26 years of long-term planning, taking full-fledged steps toward transitioning into a commercial airport.
On Tuesday the 20th, local, state, and federal officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $41 million control tower, marking the start of a major project aimed at boosting future growth and enhancing safety at the airport.
Since 1992, Manassas Airport has operated an approximately 70-foot-tall (about 21 meters) control tower through a unique method of dismantling, transporting, and reassembling an existing tower from Centennial Airport near Denver. However, this large-scale new construction project was launched to address aging facilities and surging aviation demand.
The new tower will stand at 145 feet (approximately 44 meters)—more than double the height of the current one—and is expected to take about two years to complete. The new complex will also include a 9,000-square-foot base building equipped with a state-of-the-art simulator room for training pilots and air traffic controllers. Airport officials anticipate that the project will significantly improve operational safety and play a pivotal role in attracting commercial airline services in the future.
Rebranded from "Manassas Regional Airport" earlier this year, Washington Manassas Airport obtained its Part 139 certification for commercial operations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in August. This makes it the 10th commercial airport in Virginia, with plans to launch scheduled commercial passenger service in the Prince William County area by late 2027.