Oklahoma City's Wiley Post Airport received a $163,684 grant from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
The money will be applied to the first of three phases to reconstruct and strengthen the airport's parallel taxiway. Total cost of Phase I will be more than $2.7 million. Phase II and Phase III, when completed, should cost an additional $5 million. Federal funds will cover most of the costs associated with the entire.
The grant is part of the Commission's Capital Improvement Program, which provides state funding to Oklahoma airports for capital needs.
"Wiley Post plays a crucial role in Oklahoma's economy, especially in central Oklahoma, by providing a means for business and industry to transport commerce throughout the state," said Commission Director Victor Bird.
Scott Keith, airport manager at Wiley Post, said that several operators and charter companies of larger and heavier aircraft have told him that they would like to use their planes at Wiley Post, but because of weight restrictions at the airport, they are forced to use smaller, lighter aircraft.
Nearly 400 aircraft are currently based at Wiley Post Airport.
