Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) has secured just over $39 million in federal funds to help pay for the expansion of the airport's runways.

The grant comes as a part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which funds airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting, markings and other critical infrastructure.

The Airport was previously notified that it would be awarded $15.2 million in AIP funds for the taxiway project, and this announcement brings the total federal funding for this project to $54.5 million.

"The work on improving our infrastructure has not and must not stop in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a statement on Thursday.

The $54.5 million in federal funding will be used toward the extension of the Airport’s Taxiway G and Taxiway B, which connect to MSY’s East-West Runway (11-29). These taxiway extensions will improve aircraft access to the East-West Runway (11-29), the airport statement said.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $65 million, and is expected to begin later this year.

It will consist of extending Taxiway G 1,500 feet to the west of its current location to connect it with Runway 11 end and building out Taxiway B to connect it to Taxiway G. Crews will also install the required lighting and signage for these extensions. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Aircraft operations at MSY will continue throughout the project as the Airport has two runways.

"Thanks to this new wave of funding for our taxiways, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is well-positioned to accommodate our future needs," said Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole.

Eighty airports in 25 states received airport infrastructure grants today from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the FAA.

Additionally, earlier this year, the federal government awarded New Orleans airport $42.7 million in emergency relief funds under the CARES Act, which distributed a total of $10 billion to airports across the country.

The airport has said it is using these funds to pay debt service, payroll and other critical operations.

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