Nearly $5 million granted to these Central Illinois airports

CENTRAL ILLINOIS, (WCIA) — Three Central Illinois airports will receive nearly $5 million in federal funding to improve infrastructure.

Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville, State of Illinois’ Airport System Plan in Springfield and Rantoul National Aviation Center-Frank Elliott Field Airport will receive this funding from U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration.

The money will be spent on expanding the terminal buildings, making sure the taxiway structures are safe, installing devices which limit noise pollution, investing in clean energy, improving drainage systems and limiting things areas that may attract wildlife.

Rantoul airport used their funds to improve their north-south runway.

“The runways are graded by a company called applied payment technology,” Carson Vericker, Rantoul’s airport manager said. “And they put a grade on what they asphalt is and the degrade that come off of runway 1836 was very poor.”

He says the FAA paid 90% of the runway’s re-do with the state and village splitting the rest.

“Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state and the source of jobs for so many working families,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said in a press release. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this investment of federal funding to help grow and modernize our airports across the state. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin to make traveling safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

In total, 12 airports across the state of Illinois received more than $37 million in federal funding. Danville and Rantoul airports were both given over $2 million, and Springfield received $300,000.

“By improving and modernizing airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said in a press release. “Today’s announced federal funding for upgrading our airports across Illinois will enhance the travel experience for passengers and promote economic growth. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

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