Oregon receiving over $17 million to make airport improvements

(The Center Square) - The Federal Aviation Administration gave Oregon $17,364,442 to make infrastructure upgrades under the Airport Improvement Program.

“Oregon’s airports connect communities across our state to the rest of the world—supporting local businesses, transporting goods, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, said. “This $17 million in federal funding will modernize infrastructure at airports across Oregon, growing our economy and ensuring safety for Oregonians and visitors alike as they fly throughout our state.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, expressed a similar sentiment.

“As evidenced by the ongoing wildfires throughout Oregon, airports statewide play a key role in emergency response along with their everyday reliability for medical supplies, passenger travel, and moving small business products from point A to point B,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified these airports have secured these federal funds that will enable them to achieve all those goals more safely and effectively.”

The AIP grant program pays for airport infrastructure projects, like runway and taxiway improvements, passenger boarding bridges, airport signage, airport lighting, and airport markings, the release said.

"These awards will go toward pavement, runway, and taxiway improvements, as well as safety area construction," the release said.

Here are the amounts and recipients of the awards from the Federal Aviation Administration to Oregon airports, according to the release:

Portland International Airport: $7,766,449Bend Municipal Airport: $3,750,000Roseburg Regional Airport: $2,120,951Roberts Field in Redmond: $1,291,810Siletz Bay State Airport: $1,169,434McNary Field in Salem: $300,000Grants Pass Airport: $274,180Cottage Grove State Airport: $264,118Myrtle Creek Municipal Airport: $180,000Ken Jernstedt Airfield in Hood River: $140,000

Siletz Bay State and McNary Field specifically got federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the release said. Plus, the Oregon Department of Aviation received $107,500 from the law to update an already-existing state airport system plan.