The sounds of planes swooping and buzzing overhead are familiar to Willard airport, 1 Airport Road, Savoy, and this summer the sounds of construction have joined in the mechanical symphony.

Located off U.S. Route 45, about six miles south of Champaign-Urbana, Willard airport is currently under construction for repairs and updates after years of continuous use. The $3.5 million construction, which began in early May, aims to resurface the tarmac on the south side of Willard’s terminal where its joints have started to deteriorate and crack.

Funding for the project comes from a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, which covers the majority of the costs. The state of Illinois and Willard Airport will each pay two and a half percent of the cost.

Pavement machines have been ripping up thin layers of concrete and replacing them with asphalt and more concrete. This is the first time the tarmac has be renovated and work is expected to finish sometime in November.

Airport manager Steve Wanzek said construction has not caused any major traffic disruptions.

“People seem to be cooperating (with the construction) really well,” Wanzek said.

Wanzek also said the project is not expected to hamper Willard’s service or accessibility.

The main entrance from U.S. Route 45, the terminal access road and the airport parking lot are also being resurfaced this summer. These projects are also not expected to affect the service or accessibility of Willard. The entrance and parking lot resurfacing project is expected to cost $1.4 million and is being funded by the state and Willard revenue.

“We are doing one quarter of the parking lot at a time,” Wanzek said. “We have the luxury of doing one entrance at a time, too.”

Besides the current resurfacing project, Willard is in the process of planning or designing other various updates for the airport. Ten new hangars are slated for possible construction over the next five to 10 years to replace the existing 33. The 30 to 40 year old hangars lack running water or sufficient electric power and will be torn down when the new buildings are finished. Other smaller projects will bring the airport up to code and improve service.

Willard Airport houses the University’s Institute of Aviation which offers a B.S. in aviation human factors or a professional pilot program to enrolled students. According to the Institute’s Web site, the aviation human factors program of study “focuses on how to make both airplanes and the pilots who fly them safer and more effective” through a mixed curriculum of instructional professional pilot training and psychology courses. The professional pilot program allows students to obtain a certificate from the Institute of Aviation along with a bachelor degree from the University.

Sybil Phillips, head of the professional pilot division, said students and instructors have avoided any inconveniences so far, since they use facilities separate from Willard’s commercial airlines.

“It’s as if they were resurfacing the parking lot of Wal-Mart and you pulled into K-Mart,” Phillips said. “There wouldn’t be any problems.”