Commission awards millions to airports around the state

A state commission approved grants for more than $3 million worth of airport improvement projects Thursday. 

The projects at eight airports approved by the South Dakota Aeronautics Commission will utilize local funds with federal and state grants:

• Aberdeen: $110,000 for runway safety equipment, $99,000 federal share, $5,500 state share, $5,500 local share.
• Hot Springs: $454,437 for an expansion of a hangar taxi lane and approaches, $324,000 federal share, $18,000 state share, $112,437 local share.
• Milbank: $100,000 to reconstruct its runway turnaround, $90,000 federal share, $5,000 state share, $5,000 local share.
• Onida: $420,000 for the design and construction of an Automated Weather Observing System to provide weather data to pilots and operational safety for both commercial and agricultural activities, $378,000 federal share, $21,000 state share, $21,000 local share.
• Sioux Falls: $460,000 to expand its east cargo apron as part of a broader effort to accommodate increasing cargo traffic and operational demand, $414,000 federal share, $23,000 state share, $23,000 local share.
• Tea: $1.33 million for the reconstruction of a hangar taxi lane at Marv Skie/Lincoln County Airport, $1.197 million federal share, $66,500 state share, $66,500 local share.
• Wagner: $360,000 toward engineering for an Automated Weather Observing System system and subsequent construction, $324,800 federal share, $18,000 state share, $18,000 local share.
• Yankton: $100,000 for the design and bidding of pavement reconstruction, $80,600 federal share, $4,500 state share, $14,900 local share.