Tyler Airport Gets $9.8 Million for Runway Renovations

TYLER — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has received its largest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant in its history, according to city officials. On Aug. 26, the city council authorized Tyler Pounds Regional Airport to accept an Airport Improvement Grant from the FAA totaling $9,841,711. Airport construction contracts were also authorized to Reynolds and Kay, Ltd. of Tyler, pending receipt of the grant. Airport staff has worked with the FAA to acquire grant funding for the 2015 fiscal year to perform a number of airport improvement projects, according to a news release. It is anticipated the grant will cover up to 90 percent of all eligible expenses related to the 2015 Runway 4/22 Rehabilitation Project.

Phase One of the program was awarded Oct. 8, 2014, and is scheduled to be completed by the end of Nov. 2015. The newest proposed project is Phase Two of the Runway 4/22 rehabilitation program and work is scheduled to begin in early October. Phase One focused on rebuilding part of the aged runway and strengthening its base. Phase Two will continue this rebuilding process further down the runway. Mayor Martin Heines and Airport Manager Davis Dickson are upbeat about the grant. Dickson points out that the runway pavement section is well over 20 years old, with the runway weight capacity below anticipated activity levels within the next five years — something he says the grant will address.