Detroit Metro Airport Receives $15 Million Stimulus Grant for Runway
Rehabilitation
-Summer project estimated to generate up to 225 new local jobs
DETROIT, May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As many as 225 excavators, pavers,
haulers, electricians and other construction workers are anticipated to be
hard at work at Detroit Metro Airport this summer, thanks to a $15 million
grant awarded to the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) as part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. WCAA was notified of
the award this week by Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15).
"The Airport Authority is grateful to Congressman Dingell, as well as Senators
Levin and Stabenow, for their hard work to bring this economic opportunity to
the Airport and to Southeast Michigan," said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson. "We're
eager to get started on rehabilitating this critical piece of transportation
infrastructure for our region--and to put people to work."
The ARRA grant is designated to support the reconstruction of Detroit Metro
Airport's Runway 9L/27R--one of two crosswind runways used primarily during
strong westerly wind conditions. The $34.6 million rehabilitation project had
already been scheduled to begin this summer; however, this ARRA funding
enables WCAA to accelerate what would have been a two-year project to a single
construction season in 2009--enhancing the short-term economic impact of the
project to the region (a primary goal of ARRA).
"Detroit Metro Airport is a beautiful complex. The terminals are state of the
art and leave a wonderful impression on the millions of people who fly in and
out of Detroit each year. However, I think travelers would be in overwhelming
agreement that nothing matters more than the runways and this money will pay
for much needed work," Congressman Dingell said about the grant. "Today's
announcement is just another example of stimulus money being used to fund
important and necessary projects in our community and around the nation, while
at the same time creating much needed jobs."
Unlike previous runway rehabilitation projects, the accelerated 9L/27R project
is expected to have minimal--if any--impact on airline operations or aircraft
noise over surrounding communities. Because 9L/27R is used only during
specific, infrequent wind conditions, air traffic will continue to operate as
normal on the airport's four primary (parallel) runways throughout the
reconstruction.
"The timing of this project is ideal for everyone, given the opportunity to
accelerate the reconstruction during a summer when our airlines already
anticipate operating fewer flights due to economic factors," explained
Robinson.
Work on the runway reconstruction is expected to begin in early June. Runway
9R/27L is currently 8,700 feet long and 200 feet wide. The reconstructed
runway will be reduced in width to 150 feet as allowed by Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) guidance in order to reduce construction costs as well as
yield reduced maintenance costs and snow removal response time. Associated
runway markings, electrical, and edge lighting systems will be replaced as
part of the reconstruction project. The newly-rebuilt runway will have a
lifespan of at least 20-years.
Serving more than 35 million passengers annually, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne
County Airport (DTW) is the largest airport in Michigan and among the 20
busiest air transportation hubs in the world. DTW serves as the
second-largest hub for the world's largest airline, Delta Air Lines, and is
also home to 14 additional airlines, including several low-cost carriers and
foreign-flag carriers. With two new passenger terminals and six jet runways,
DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable, customer-friendly and
efficient airports in North America with more than 1,200 non-stop flights per
day to over 160 destinations worldwide.
NB: The estimated jobs impact reflects an estimate of full-time equivalent
(FTE) jobs for the projected number of on-site work hours required for the
project. This estimate is exclusive of additional associated manufacturing or
off-site jobs that will be maintained or created by the construction work
occurring on the airport as a result of this ARRA grant.
SOURCE Wayne County Airport Authority
Scott Wintner, +1-734-955-3745, or Michael Conway, +1-734-942-3558
