Senator Collins Announces Nearly $3.5 Million for Nine Maine Airports

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that nine airports across Maine have been awarded a total of $3,490,995 from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

“Maine’s regional airports are an essential piece of our transportation network, linking communities to other parts of the state, the country, and the world,” said Senator Collins.  “By helping to improve the efficiency and safety of operations, these investments will allow these airports to continue to serve as a transportation option and support job creation in rural parts of our state.”

The grant funding, which was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration, was awarded as follows:

• $950,950 for Presque Isle International Airport’s purchase of snow removal equipment.

This funding reimburses the airport for snow removal equipment it received in October 2018, including two replacement snow removal trucks, one sweeper attachment, and a new snow blower attachment.  The equipment will help keep the airport serviceable during inclement winter weather and aid in the efficiency and safety of operations.

• $488,700 for Millinocket Municipal Airport to acquire snow removal equipment and conduct a wildlife hazard assessment.

This funding will allow the airport to acquire a replacement snow removal vehicle with blower and plow attachments to keep the airport serviceable during inclement winter weather and aid in the efficiency and safety of operations.  It will also support a wildlife hazard assessment site visit to identify the wildlife species observed as well as their numbers, locations, local movement, and daily/seasonal activities.

• $369,000 for Biddeford Municipal Airport to reconstruct runway.

This funding will support the reconstruction of 3,011 feet of the existing Runway 6/24 pavement that has reached the end of its useful life.  This grant funds the first phase, which consist of design and permitting.

• $369,000 for Wiscasset Municipal Airport to remove obstructions.

This funding will support the removal of tree obstructions from the Runway 7 approach surface.  Specifically, this grant funds the first phase of the project, which consists of acquiring one aviation easement for Runway 7.

• $320,310 for Eastern Slopes Regional Airport to construct a hangar.

This funding will support the construction of a 10,000 square foot hangar building to assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible by generating revenue.

• $304,380 for Lincoln Regional Airport to reconstruct runway.

This funding will support the reconstruction of 2,805 feet of the existing Runway 17/35 pavement that has reached the end of its useful life.  This grant funds the first phase, which consists of the design and permitting.

• $246,150 for Bethel Regional Airport to rehabilitate apron and runway.

This funding will support the rehabilitation of 3,818 feet of Runway 14/32 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.  It will also support the rehabilitation of 19,000 square yards of the existing based and itinerant aircraft parking apron.

• $231,476 for Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport to rehabilitate apron and runways.

This funding will support the rehabilitation of 43,000 square yards of the existing terminal apron, 3,363 feet of Runway 17/35, 5,200 feet of Runway 4/22, and 5,765 feet of the existing parallel Taxiway H.  These projects will help maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and minimize foreign object debris.

• $110,229 for Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport to conduct an environmental study.

This investment will fund an environmental study to evaluate any potential environmental impacts related to the proposed obstruction removal project, easement acquisition project, and construction of a snow removal building.

• $100,800 for Greenville Municipal Airport to conduct aeronautical survey for RNAV approach

This funding will support a Runway 32 end survey to evaluate existing obstructions in support of implementation of a localizer approach with vertical guidance at the airport.