dona ana county gets state funding for anticipated airport project

Dona Ana County is set to target some $4.1 million in state funding to rebuild the main runway at a Santa Teresa airport.

Members of the New Mexico State Legislature this spring voted in favor of state funding for the project, which is expected to cost a total of nearly $10 million to complete.

That funding, as part of a larger capital outlay bill, was subsequently approved by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The project at the Dona Ana County International Jetport, located at 8014 Airport Road, will allow the airport to handle larger and heavier airplanes.

The project has already secured just over $5.6 million in county funding.

Members of the Dona Ana County Commission originally approved funding for the rebuilt runway in late 2016.

Altogether, Dona Ana is receiving just over $68 million in state funding approved by the legislature and governor for a variety of capital improvement projects.

The City of Las Cruces is getting $2 million for the design of a five-story downtown parking garage that will house some 400 parking spaces.

Additional funding includes $2.4 million for two long-discussed flood control projects in the East Mesa and Hatch community; and $3.4 million for improvements to the South Central Wastewater Treatment Plan in the community of Vado, as well as sewer extension work in the Sleepy Farms community.

An additional $525,000 will go for the construction of a sports complex at the Delores Wright Memorial Park in the city of Chaparral, with another $500,000 set for improvements to a fire station in the Dona Ana village.

By Garry Boulard

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