The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority approved a construction contract to build a maintenance building while tabling action on a hangar facility during a special meeting this week.

Lundy Construction was selected to build the maintenance building at a cost of $5.3 million.

The building, for housing snow equipment, trucks and other apparatus, will replace an existing structure east of the terminal building.

Ground is to be broken possibly by this summer for the

project, which will be funded by Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES Act) dollars.

Airport executive director Richard Howell said it was important to get started soon on the maintenance facility as CARES funding runs out next year.

The Authority decided to delay action on approving a contract for construction of the 10-bay T-hangar building after considering that costs for funding both projects superseded available funding.

One option considered was to do upgrades to the existing hangar building, used by private pilots for housing planes, a less costly option than putting up a new facility.

Authority members seemed to agree that the maintenance building project should be done initially.

“I think that’s a higher priority,” Marshall Welch said.

Chris Logue suggested further research be done with the hanger building project.

Howell noted that the airport has other infrastructure projects to consider including the extension of Montour Street to the airport and upgrades to the flight service building.

The next authority meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8.