Eagle River airport gets entry refresh

All three primary entrances to the Eagle River Union Airport will soon get a facelift with new lift gates replacing the sliding gates that were installed more than 20 years ago.

The two ancillary entrances, primarily used by airport officials and pilots, along Adams Road and at the end of Dyer Farm Road are currently under construction and are expected to be completed by the end of the year, while the main public entrance will receive its facelift in the spring of 2027.

Robert Hom is the airport manager, a position he has held for 17 years. He said safety and functionality are the two major reasons for the changes.

“We are just keeping up with the times, and incorporating some modernization and updated safety to these areas,” he said. “One of the main problems to the sliding gate arrangement is the challenges that weather causes each winter. Ice and snow build-up can derail gates which require regular maintenance. The new gates will be stronger and will be better able to handle most weather conditions.”

Hom pointed out that the work is being conducted using local labor sources with Pitlik and Wick managing the excavation and road work, while Van Ert Electric provides the electrical connections and placing conduit underground for future use with lighting or security functions. Although the cost of this project was not announced, Hom said that the Federal Aviation Administration will provide funding for approximately 90% of the costs with another 5% coming each from state and local sources.

One of the enhancements will be the added ability to operate the gates using power from back-up generators on the property. This will allow access to and from the airfield in the rare circumstances when a power outage would otherwise limit availability for the airport ground crew, pilots, and other employees or customers.

The modernization of the entrance gates falls on the heels of other growth changes at the airport. Hom said that the facility has seen the recent addition of two new hangars, with one just completed earlier this year. There is also a third hangar that is in the process of being built and the airport commission recently approved a fourth new hangar to begin construction next year. Hom said this is a good indication of a healthy airport and that increased air traffic regularly arrives from locations across the country. Prior to 2025, the last new hangar construction took place 16 years prior.

“The Northwoods is a very popular place,” he said, “and people still want to visit by air to enjoy all of the recreational activity that each season offers.”

He said that he wants the airport to be ready when they get here and that having updated features will make the process easier. He also said that the airport website will be getting a fresh look in the near future allowing information about future enhancements to be better shared with the public. For now, Hom is happy to have new gates ready for winter use.

Based on the recent string of warm weather in the area, winter still feels off in the distance, which is fine with Hom.

“Cold and snowy weather is always a challenge for airports,” he said, “and anytime we can keep the plows off the runways, that is a good thing.”