Special to Iredell Free News
RALEIGH – The N.C. Board of Transportation has approved more than $27 million in state and federal funds for projects to improve safety and customer service at 13 North Carolina airports, including the Statesville Regional Airport.
The board approved the funds during its September 2 meeting.
The funds the N.C. Board of Transportation approved are:
♦ $315,000 in state funds to create bid documents and demolish a structure in the runway approach at Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo;
♦ $60,000 in additional state funds for the industrial airpark development project at Duplin County Airport in Kenansville;
♦ $5.32 million in state funds to rehabilitate the runway and replace the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system at Hyde County Airport in Englehard;
♦ $180,000 in state funds to design a new above-ground fuel farm at Laurinburg-Maxton Airport;
♦ $2.7 million in state funds for site preparations for a new development area at Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport;
♦ $4.5 million in state funds to complete the parallel taxiway for Runway 23 at Lumberton Regional Airport;
♦ $900,000 in state funds to construct a new fuel farm at Macon County Airport in Franklin;
♦ $36,000 in state funds for the design and bid of the parallel taxiway at Martin County Airport in Williamston;
♦ $360,000 in state funds to rehabilitate the crosswind runway at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort;
♦ $1.38 million in state funds to complete the full parallel taxiway at Mount Airy/Surry County Airport;
♦ $4.77 million in state funds to construct new, and improve existing, taxi lanes at Raleigh Executive Jetport in Sanford;
♦ $766,912 in state funds to purchase land in the runway protection zone at Statesville Regional Airport;
♦ $3.77 million in state funds for rehabilitation of the runway, taxiway and apron at Triangle North Executive Airport in Louisburg;
♦ $2 million in federal funds for apron expansion and taxilane rehabilitation at Triangle North Executive Airport in Louisburg.
North Carolina’s 72 public airports serve as vital economic engines connecting people and business enterprises with the world. Airports and aviation-related industries contribute more than $61 billion to North Carolina’s economy each year, according to the 2021 State of Aviation report. They support 373,000 jobs, generate more than $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenue, and provide more than $15 billion in personal income.
The funds awarded will be distributed by the NCDOT Division of Aviation, and do not necessarily represent the total cost of a project.