Aug. 27—An almost $7.26 million federal grant will help the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport create a new taxiway extension for planes to travel before takeoff.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced the grant Friday.

The airport board awarded Leeward Construction of Honesdale a $6,998,000 contract in March, the second of three contracts in the extension project.

This phase places the earthen fill that will support the extended taxiway, airport Director of Engineering Stephen Mykulyn said in an email.

The first phase, which cost more than $4.6 million, entailed moving navigational equipment and building a new access road to the airport's control tower.

The last phase is building the extension.

The airport plans to extend the taxiway to its main, 7,501-foot runway's southern end so planes can take off quicker and safer.

They must travel down the runway and turn around at the end now. The 1,200-foot extension will take the existing taxiway to the runway's end.

"As the airport makes critical infrastructure upgrades, this funding will ensure its taxiways keep aircraft moving swiftly and efficiently," Casey said in a statement.

The airport finished a $15.2 million, 1,200-foot taxiway extension to the runway's northern end in 2017.

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