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Progress made to replace Offutt Air Force Base's bad runway

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — A project to replace Offutt Air Force Base's crumbling runway appears to be moving forward, but key questions have yet to be answered.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry was optimistic following a meeting Wednesday with Maj. Gen. Timothy Green, the Air Force director of civil engineers. The meeting was prompted by efforts of Fortenberry and a task force he created to focus on the issue.

Fortenberry says the Air Force plans to seek design contract bids for the runway by May but is still studying whether to do a partial or full replacement.

The situation carries major economic implications for the Omaha area. A deteriorating runway could eventually prompt the Air Force to move the 55th Wing to a different base, costing the area thousands of civilian and military jobs.

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