Centennial Airport Awarded $4 Million Through BIL
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The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced nearly $1 billion in grants to airports around the country, including Centennial Airport, which was awarded a $4 million grant to go towards site selection and engineering/design of a new air traffic control tower.
"As one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, it is extremely gratifying to receive these funds to invest in the future of our airport,’ said Centennial Airport Executive Director Mike Fronapfel. “Centennial Airport has played a pivotal role in the economic growth our region has seen, and we feel that this funding towards the construction of a new control tower will allow us to continue to assist in the economic growth in both Arapahoe and Douglas Counties."
The current Centennial Airport tower was opened in 1985 and has overseen over 14 million operations since then but is approaching the end of its useful life. The new tower will provide controllers with a modernized cab with ADA compatibility, better visibility and will take advantage of new technology to better view and manage aircraft on approach. This will reduce congestion and delays which will result in increased fuel efficiency for aircraft and improve overall efficiency for the airport as the primary reliever for Denver International Airport.
The airport anticipates beginning the site selection process this year with the remainder of the design and construction timeline to be determined at a later date. The goal with this grant is to provide a “shovel-ready” project for future funding discussions.
Centennial was not the only Colorado airport to receive funding as Durango-La Plata County Airport received $3.2 million in 2022 to go towards terminal rehabilitation. Denver International Airport was awarded a total of $82 million earmarked for terminal improvements, including a replacement of the baggage handling system. Colorado Springs Airport was the final airport in the state to receive funding as COS was allotted $6 million for concourse modernization.