An American Eagle flight prepares for takeoff at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler, Texas, on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. 5,300 feet of the new runway has been completed, with the final 3,000 feet still under construction and expected to be completed this fall. (Chelsea Purgahn/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

After nearly four years of construction, the city’s longest runway at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport helped transport passengers to Dallas.

The first plane to use runway 4-22 since construction started in 2014 flew out of the airport on Monday afternoon.

The runway project is two-thirds of the way complete, but enough of it is ready that planes can safely take off and land on the pavement, said Airport Manager Davis Dickson.

The pilot reported that the takeoff and pavement surface was “feathery smooth.”

While still under construction, the runway is longer than the rest of the runways at Tyler Pounds at 5,300 feet.

The final leg of the project, which would extend the runway to 8,300 feet, is slated to be complete in the fall. After the physical runway is complete, the city will begin work on a final taxiway to connect it into the runway system, as well as add in some improved instrument landing systems to help planes land during inclement weather. The total project is anticipated to cost about $45 million, which is paid for through Federal Aviation Administration grants and the local Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund.

“The way I see this project is something that will benefit not only our generation — but like the other runways here — multiple generations,” Dickson said. “It’s been a project that is needed. Certainly, if we didn’t do it, it would leave us in a concern because (of the condition of the former pavement).”

The new surface is made of 14-inch thick grooved concrete, which is stronger than asphalt and has a longer life. The runway is 150 feet wide.

It is also capable of carrying heavier and larger aircraft. That means larger cargo planes to carry Amazon deliveries and larger passenger planes that can carry more people to destinations farther away.

It also makes the airport more attractive to new airlines and charter flights to destinations such as casinos.

Dickson said he had chills running down his back as he watched Monday’s plane take off.

“We have worked so hard for the last few years with environmental reviews, working to make sure we set up our financial plans correctly, working with the FAA they have been a tremendous partner in this project. It’s been a team effort and to get this far, I know we will make it all the way through.”

Twitter: @TMTFaith