The Wahoo Municipal Airport celebrated the completion of its reconstructed runway, an improvement made possible through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant program.
The AIP grant provided funding for a full reconstruction of Runway 2/20. The consultant for the project was Olsson out of Lincoln and the contractor was Paulsen, Inc. out of Cozad. The grant provided $4.3 million toward the project, with the total cost of the project approximately $5 million.
The project was completed in April of this year and increases efficiency, reliability, and service for the regional airport. Funding for this project was primarily provided by the AIP grant funds, with 10% of the funding coming from COVID-19 emergency acts, including the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Aeronautics Division assisted with the administration of the grant awarded to the Wahoo Airport Authority.
“As NDOT continues its goal of improving mobility in the state, leveraging partnerships at all levels of government creates opportunities for projects that may have been previously out of reach. FAA Central Region in Kansas City has been an excellent advocate in providing guidance to our local partners on ways to streamline the grant process,” said Vicki Kramer, Director of NDOT. “Through these partnerships, NDOT Aeronautics Division is equipped to assist and support local airports on the application process while working with the FAA to ensure timely receipt of funding. NDOT looks forward to continuing our work with airports as their communities look to maximize the use of federal grant funds.”
“Local airports are a vital piece of our transportation network in Nebraska,” said Jeremy Borrell, Director of NDOT Aeronautics Division. “We celebrate the success of this project with Wahoo and the investment it means for the community. We look forward to continuing to assist other airports across the state as funding opportunities come forward.”
AIP projects promote safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure, and security at the nation’s airports. For more information on FAA AIP grants visit https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip.
