Airport secures $3.7M federal grant

The Federal Aviation Administration is carving out $3.7 million in grant funding for the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

The funding will help the airport pay for reconstruction of a taxiway and repairs for a runway. The $7 million total project cost also is being funded by the airport and additional FAA funding received annually, according to a news release.

“We appreciate the strong support and leadership from our congressional delegation in securing these funds,” says Brian Weiler, director of the Springfield airport, in the release. “The pavement on the taxiway being reconstructed has worn out and there are cracks in isolated portions of Runway 2-20 that need to be replaced. This grant is a major step toward making that happen.”

Construction is slated to start later this year, and flight traffic is not expected to be impacted.

The airport last month reported a new record of nearly 1.2 million passengers in 2019. Also in 2019, Springfield City Council gave unanimous approval for the airport to accept grant funding that largely will pay for a second phase of improvements at the general aviation airport. Nearly $886,000 from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission will cover the bulk of the $984,330 project to add two new hangars.

Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines provide nonstop flights to 12 destinations from the Springfield airport, according to its website.