The Lincoln Airport will receive a $41 million grant to reconstruct its largest runway.
Sen. Deb Fischer announced on Friday the airport will receive the money through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program.
The runway, which is longer than many at almost 13,000 feet, was constructed to accommodate the Nebraska National Guard’s larger planes.
In June, the Lincoln Airport Authority Board approved applying for the grant through the Federal Aviation Administration.
In addition to the grant funds, the cost of the reconstruction project will be shared by the Nebraska National Guard, the State of Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and the Lincoln Airport.
In July, the Airport Authority accepted an $85 million bid for runway construction from Lincoln-based Constructors Inc. The military’s share of the runway rehabilitation has been estimated at about $44.6 million.
The Airport Authority has also accepted a $4.9 million contract with engineering company Benesch for the runway project and plane taxiway improvements. And it has approved a $915,000 contract with a division of the FAA for navigational aid technology.
In July, the airport’s director of Planning and Development, Chad Lay, said construction on the runway would likely begin after Nov. 1 to maximize the time contractors have to pave in warmer weather.
Fisher, who has advocated for the project, released a statement in support of the federal grant on Friday.
“I’m pleased that, after much steady advocacy, the Lincoln Airport will receive the funds necessary to complete the refurbishment of one of its runways that plays a crucial role in the operations of our Nebraska National Guard and other national security missions,” Fisher said in the statement. “This has been many years in the making, and I look forward to seeing this project come to a final completion.”
Reach the writer at nfranklin@journalstar.com or 402-473-7391.
On Twitter @NealHFranklin
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