Rhode Island airports will receive several grant awards totaling more than $24 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee announced Monday.
Allocated by the Federal Aviation Administration, the grants will go to T.F. Green Airport ($17.3 million); Block Island State Airport ($3,374,568); North Central State Airport ($2,738,181); Quonset State Airport ($650,000); Newport State Airport ($190,000); and Westerly State Airport ($72,477).
The awards will be used for renovations and improvement projects throughout the airports. The FAA allocated the amounts based on technical assessments of the cost of each of the projects. The airports will go through a bidding process to determine the final amount of funding necessary to complete the job, which will be provided by the FAA.
T.F. Green will use portions of its award to rehabilitate damaged taxiways for airplanes, restoring damaged pavement. The airport will also receive funding to acquire land for noise reduction and for an environmental impact statement regarding the proposed extension of its primary runway.
Block Island will use the funds for the reconstruction and extension of its primary runway. Terminal building improvements will also be completed.
North Central will use its funds for runway rehabilitations. Quonset will look to improve airport erosion control – repairs will be made to the seawall at the oceanfront airport, which acts as a barrier to deter access and prevent flooding of runways.
Newport airport will use its funding for a master plan update, which will identify future facility requirements for the airport. Alternatives and an environmental review for airport needs will be included in the process, as well as a financial plan for short, mid and long term necessities.
Westerly airport will use its allocation to finalize a plan for the clearing and marking of both on and off runway obstructions.
