Springs airport gets $6.2 million federal grant
The Colorado Springs Airport got a grant for a $6.28 million face-lift, but you'll have to look down to see it.
The money is from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and will be used to repair deteriorating taxiway pavement.
It's stimulus money - and it's "shovel ready."
"We'll be putting it out for bids immediately, like in the next few days," airport aviation director Mark Earle said Thursday.
It means new jobs later this spring. "All will be private-sector construction," Earle said.
He said the money is in addition to $11 million from Federal Aviation Administration grants.
"It's part of a much larger project. It's an additional phase of the same program," Earle said.
Travelers won't notice, he said, unless they look out the window.
"The aircraft will be routed around the construction. It's a benefit they don't see day-to-day but will certainly realize in safety and operational efficiency."
