MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Montgomery Regional Airport will receive approximately $8.5 million in federal funding to make improvements to its runway, Congressman Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, and airport leadership announced on Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Transportation grant will support the airport’s renovation of 9,000 feet of runway pavement. The updates are designed to enhance structural integrity, minimize pavement debris and extend the runway’s useful life.
Loyd Jenkins, the Montgomery Airport’s executive director, said runways have to be stripped down and resurfaced every 10 to 15 years, meaning the airport’s tarmac is reaching the end of its lifespan.
He called the project “crucial” to the airport’s success and important in its broader modernization project. The airport recently unveiled two new baggage carousels and is currently working on an update to its airfield electrical lighting.
“Our runway is the most important piece of infrastructure here at the airport…” Jenkins said. “It’s vital to commercial passenger service, military aviation, general aviation, cargo activity and economic development for the River Region area. This grant represents more than just pavement here at the airport, it represents our continued access to air service, strong connections to our business and residents and also support for our military partners here at the airport.”
The grant came after Figures, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a formal letter of support for the project.
“Federal investment through this project will help preserve critical infrastructure while positioning the region for new opportunities in commerce, workforce mobility, and tourism, and modernizing and maintaining critical assets like MGM is key to promoting safety, regional connectivity, and economic growth,” he wrote in the letter.
The funding stems from the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Figures said.
Figures said that though he helped push the grant forward, the project started with local leadership, specifically the airport authority. He thanked local leaders for positioning the airport to take advantage of federal funding.
“It’s been a pleasure to work to get this done, and a pleasure to actually stand here today, sitting with nearly $9 million headed here for a critical infrastructure project that has been mentioned by everyone since the day I started running for office nearly three years ago now,” Figures said.
Jenkins said he expects the $12 million renovation to begin in October.