Denver International Airport and smaller municipal airports in Colorado will split more than $6.6 million in federal grants intended to cover rehabilitation costs and master-plan studies.
The bulk of the Federal Aviation Administration grants — $5.97 million — will go to DIA for much-needed taxiway rehab work while similar fix-ups will be done under a $215,000 grant at Durango-La Plata County Airport.
Spanish Peaks Airfield Airport near Walsenberg will get $200,000 to install new airport beacons, while Yuma Municipal Airport and one in Fort Morgan are each to receive $118,755 to produce an airport master plan.
“I’m pleased several Colorado airports will receive FAA grants, including more than $5.9 million for DIA,” Gardner said. “DIA, along with other airports throughout the state, are vital to the Colorado communities they serve, and it is important the FAA recognizes their benefits,” U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner said in a statement announcing the grants.
Gardner sits on the Senate subcommittee on aviation operations, safety and security.
The DIA grants are made up of a $2 million allotment to replace about 130 concrete panels along a taxiway, and $3.9 million that will partially fund a $7.9 million project to replace 225 concrete panels in the concourse area taxiway, airport officials said.
“The airport has a robust pavement management system which monitors over 150,000 individual panels of concrete, allowing the airport to efficiently replace sections as needed based on wear and tear, damage and other factors,” spokesman Heath Montgomery said in an e-mail.
