Ground Broken on New Airport Terminal Building

ERMA – Ground was broken, May 18, on a new $7.4 million airport terminal building at the Cape May County Airport that is expected to be “substantially complete” in the first quarter of 2024.
The 5,400-square-foot terminal will contain offices, meeting space, aviation customer support areas, and a public lobby.
Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) and Cape May County officials traded praise for each other’s efforts in what they described as cooperative effort to advance the construction of the new terminal. Cape May County will share $250,000 of the $7.4 million price tag.
The terminal will, in a sense, replace the original terminal building that was constructed in 1941 as a temporary facility. The old terminal is now the home of the Airport Diner.
Officials described the terminal project as the culmination of years’ worth of work trying to revamp the Cape May County Airport.
“Not only buildings, but the transition of the airport over the last 20 years,” said DRBA Executive Director Tom Cook.
Cook told the assembled parties, “There is no second chance to make a first impression,” and the terminal would be the first stop for people flying into “WWD,” as the airport is designated. The WWD came from “Wildwood,” and the airport was, at one time, designated Naval Air Station Wildwood. It was a training site for Naval aviators on certain kinds of aircraft.
Steve Williams, deputy DRBA director, said a lot of small, general aviation airports, such as Cape May County Airport, have a beautiful, central terminal building. Williams cited examples such as Manassas, Virginia, and many airports in Florida.
“Whenever I asked them, ‘How did you do this,’ they always say, ‘With state money,'” Williams said.
According to DRBA public information officer Jim Salmon, the $7.4 million (minus the county’s share) will be paid out of the DRBA’s general fund.
“The airport is going to be another Cape May County treasure,” said Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio.
Desiderio said the terminal is going to make the airport a place where people will want to come. The airport terminal, it seems, will be somewhat similar to the ferry terminal, which has office and meeting spaces, but is targeting people who own airplanes.
In a press conference where the mood was celebratory and light, Desiderio introduced County Commissioner Will Morey, who is a pilot. Desiderio jokingly called Morey “a pain in the neck,” and Morey thanked Desiderio for elevating him to the status of neck. 
Morey said he is in regular communication with Cook, speaking perhaps 45 times per year, and described the terminal project as a “DRBA-led project.” He described the airport as the “aviation gateway to Cape May County.”
Assemblyman Erik Simonsen (R-1st), a Lower Township resident, commented on the improvements that have been made and continue to be made at the once dilapidated airport. He said it was great to see the various entities working together to make such a project happen.
Cape May County Airport is in Lower Township, owned by the county, and leased by the DRBA. Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel described the airport as diverse and noted some of the Lower Township departments located there, including the Lower Township Police Department, municipal court, Fire Safety Bureau and emergency medical services. He said the township is considering moving Public Works to the airport.
The new $7.4 million airport terminal facility will be situated on the airport apron at the end of Hornet Road. When completed, fixed based operations (FBO), fueling, and other aviation-related functions will be centrally located at the airport. 
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.