TwinBridges, Dillon and Butte public-use airports won improvement grants from the Montana Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Board. The grants are marked for use in 2015.
TwinBridgesAirport won the biggest award among the three at $100,656, which will be used for pavement improvements and electrical rehabilitation.
DillonAirport won $11,184 for pavement maintenance in the smaller airports category.
Butte’s BertMooneyAirport won $8,000 for pavement improvements as part of the large commercial service airport pavement preservation program, said Tim Conway, bureau chief for the Airport/Airways Bureau of the Montana Aeronautics Division.
“In a state of over 147,000 square miles, air travel plays an important role in supporting our communities,” said Governor Steve Bullock. “By investing in these airports, we’re not just helping with improvements; we’re helping to support local economies across Montana.”
Overall, the aeronautics board recently approved a little over $875,000 in funding requests from 31 public-use airports.
Conway said funding for program comes from a $0.02-per gallon tax on fuel sold to general aviation aircraft in Montana. Most annual grants and loans leverage matching Federal Aviation Administration dollars for large airport construction projects, but a significant percentage goes to various smaller airport projects, too.
Grant requests included a variety of improvement projects: pavement preservation/rehabilitation, airport safety and lighting upgrades. All public airports are eligible to apply for grant and loan assistance.
“These awards will give Montana’s airports the opportunity to do the maintenance that will ensure they continue to effectively serve travelers,” said Conway.