new mexico airports in line for infrastructure project funding

More than two dozen airports in New Mexico will be receiving in excess of $26 million in funds for facility upgrading and renovation projects.

That funding is a part of some $986 million in airport infrastructure grants recently awarded by the federal Department of Transportation.

Those awards are going to a variety of projects at 354 airports in 44 states.

Some of the largest New Mexico airport projects include:

* The reconstruction of a runway at the Dona Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa, which is receiving $4.9 million in funding from Washington.

* $3.4 million for improvements to the runway safety area at the Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington Roswell International Air Center has been awarded more than $2.4 million for three projects: the construction of a new parking lot, and rehabilitation of two runways.

*  $2.8 million for an apron rehabilitation project at the Las Cruces International Airport.

Smaller projects are seeing the Grant County Airport in Silver City receiving just over $380,000 for two projects: an apron reconstruction and the upgrading of the airport’s terminal.

The two-year old Andrew Othole Memorial Airport at the Pueblo of Zuni is receiving just under $300,000 to conduct an airport master plan study.

Funding for the airport grants comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program in conjunction with the Department of Transportation.

By Garry Boulard

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