August 21, 2012

Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Grant for Upgrades to Morgantown Airport

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senators Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Joe Manchin today announced that the Morgantown Municipal Airport will receive $1,454,403 in federal funding to make necessary upgrades to the airport and runway, improving travel and safety at the airport.

“Maintaining the structural integrity of our transportation facilities is an important safety measure,” said Rockefeller. “This funding will help make sure that pilots, passengers, and airport staff are safe. This is an investment in both the airport and the entire Morgantown region, as reliable transportation allows communities to grow and businesses to thrive.” 

“It is important to upgrade and repair the runways and airport facilities at the Morgantown airport to make sure that staff and passengers alike are safe as they travel to and from our state,” Manchin said. “In addition, these funds also help boost our economy, create jobs and improve our state’s infrastructure one step at a time.”

The airport will use the funds to convert Runway 5-23 to a taxiway. This conversion will include paint removal, crack sealing, seal coating, and remarking of pavement as well as modifications to airfield signage, lighting, and pavement marking. In addition, the runway will be rehabilitated to maintain structural integrity and minimize foreign object debris, while the northwest taxiway will be widened. 

The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration.

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