By December, rental cars will no longer be at risk of running onto the runway at Wilmington International Airport.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to borrow $4.5 million on the airports behalf. The money will be used to build a new rental car service maintenance center at Hall Drive and Blue Clay Road.

“Its easier for cars to be delivered there, and its not in the primary center of our business park endeavor, and it frees up the (current) space,” said Jon Rosborough, the airports executive director..

The new building, which will be able to fit between four and six cars when it is finished in December, will be used to clean cars and perform routine maintenance after they are returned. Construction is slated to start in May.

Car companies are currently using a facility near Wilmington Internationals customs facility for maintenance.

“The current location is right on what I call our beachfront property,” Rosborough said. “Its on the ramp. When that was designed many years ago we didnt have the same type of activity in terms of air service we have today.”

After the new building is finished, the 30-year-old current rental car facility could be used in any of several different ways, including housing an airplane service company, being used for corporate hangars or being used for general aviation, Rosborough added.