The days when Liberty County’s civil aviation needs were served by the small aging airstrip sometimes jokingly called Walthourville International are long gone.

That point was emphasized Friday when military and civilian officials cut the ribbon officially opening a 1,500 ft. extension of a 5,000 ft. runway at MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army Airfield.

The joint use civil-military airport not only provided a much improved facility for civilians but allowed the Army to dramatically expand utilization of its Wright Army Airfield. Ground was broken in March 2016.