Daines Announces $738,430 in Funding for Montana Airports

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines today $738,430.00 in critical funding for five Montana airports in Terry, Baker, Superior, Ekalaka and Circle.

“These dollars play a critical role in keeping our airports safe and functioning, to continue to connect our state,” Daines stated.

Daines secured the following provisions in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization:

  • Airport Improvement Program (AIP) dollars which build and maintain Montana’s critical aviation infrastructure such as runways.
  • Daines has also engaged the FAA to expedite grants to northern states with short construction seasons. 

The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Details on each grant and its allocation is below: 

Prairie County Airport Authority: $88,740.00

  • This project will fund an update to the airport master plan narrative report and airport layout plan to address key issues, objectives and goals pertinent to the airport’s future development.
  • Terry Airport is a general aviation airport, designated as basic, as defined in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) report. 

City of Baker and County of Fallon: $115,693.00

  • This project will fund the design for the construction of the 850 foot Taxiway T-6 to provide access to aircraft hangars.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 5,900 feet of Runway 13/31 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 22,200 square yards of the existing apron to maintain structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 17,750 feet of the existing Taxiways T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4 and T-5 needed to maintain structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund the design of a 8,600 square yard expansion of the existing apron to accommodate increased use of the general aviation facilities. 

Mineral County: $216,000.00

  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 5,200 square yards of the existing apron to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 3,500 feet of Runway 12/30 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking for the rehabilitation of 2,100 feet of the existing taxiway needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.

Ekalaka: $179,432.00

  • This project will fund sealing and marking to rehabilitate 3,801 feet of Runway 13/31 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking to rehabilitate 1,440 feet of the existing Taxiway T-1, T-2 and T-11 needed to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund sealing and marking to rehabilitate 11,500 square yards of the existing apron to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund the first of two phases to construct a 8,120 square foot five bay T-hangar building to assist the airport to be as self-sustaining as possible by generating revenue. The sponsor has adequately financed the airside needs of the airport. 

Town of Circle and County of McCone: $138,565.00

  • This project will fund the design phase to rehabilitate 6,780 square yards of the existing apron to maintain structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund the design phase to rehabilitate 4,105 feet of Runway 12/30 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris.
  • This project will fund the design phase to rehabilitate 655 feet of the existing Taxiways T-1 and T-2 needed to maintain structural integrity of the pavement.
  • This project will fund the installation of an automatic weather observing system to enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations at the airport by providing accurate, current, and site-specific weather information.
  • This project will fund the installation of a 14 foot wide gate and 196 feet of perimeter fencing to deter unauthorized persons and vehicles from entering onto the airfield. 

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