Dépêches

Detroit Metro Airport Gets Third Major Grant for Summer Runway Reconstruction

Dépèche transmise le 5 août 2009 par Business Wire

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--An additional $1,471,526 in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on its way to Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan’s largest air transport facility and among the world’s largest air transportation hubs, to support the ongoing reconstruction of the airport’s Runway 09L/27R. Congressman John Dingell (D-MI 15) notified the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), operator of DTW, of the additional grant award.

“The timely reconstruction of this critical transportation infrastructure—and the jobs such a project creates—are essential to Metro Detroit’s economic comeback,” said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson. “The Airport Authority could not be more grateful to and proud of Congressman Dingell, as well as Senators Levin and Stabenow, for their steadfast commitment to the future of our airport, our region and our great state.”

This new federal investment more than doubles DTW’s most recent $1,250,490 FAA grant for the runway project awarded in July. As with this original grant, the additional funding announced today will support the reconstruction of 900 feet of Runway 9L/27R east of Runway 3L/21R and narrowing it to 150 feet, which is already well underway. Runway 9L/27R is the older and one of only two crosswind runways at DTW, which are used primarily during indicated wind conditions.

“I am pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration has decided to increase the size of their grant for this runway at Detroit Metro Airport,” said Congressman Dingell. “This can help pay for some much needed improvements in terms of the airport’s ability to handle its current load. I hope this will pave the way for a more efficient and effective airport which will be able to better serve the people of Southeast Michigan, as well as create much-needed construction jobs for our folks at home.”

The grant increased by this announcement, now totaling more than $2.7 million, follows an original $30 million in FAA grants awarded to the Airport Authority in June. Half of that initial funding was provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and has enabled the WCAA to accelerate the reconstruction project, reducing the impact of construction on travelers and creating more short-term local jobs. As many as 225 excavators, pavers, haulers, electricians and other new construction jobs are anticipated at DTW this summer as part of that project.

Serving more than 35 million passengers in 2008, DTW is the largest airport in Michigan and among the busiest air transportation hubs in the world. DTW serves as the second-largest hub for the world’s largest airline, Delta Air Lines, and is also home to 14 additional airlines, including several low-cost carriers and foreign-flag carriers. With two new passenger terminals and six jet runways, DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable, customer-friendly and efficient airports in North America with more than 1,200 non-stop flights per day to over 160 destinations worldwide.