The Federal Aviation Administration will grant $6 million to the Duluth International Airport for terminal and runway designs, the agency announced today.
The crosswind runway designs will cost about $4.2 million, and the new terminal designs will cost about $1.8 million.
The grant will cover initial design costs for the estimated $60 million improvement project, which is planned to be completed as early as 2012.
The terminal project will cost about $40 million, with $20 million on the runway and other infrastructure projects.
The 35-year-old terminal has been ruled obsolete by current FAA guidelines for passenger screening and proper space between airplanes at the terminal and on the runway.
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"The new facility will be more efficient," said Brian Ryks, the executive director of the Duluth Airport Authority. "It will be a great front door for our city and our region."
The new terminal will be built on the site of the current parking lot and the current terminal will be demolished.
According to Ryks, the remaining funding will likely come from the FAA ($25-30 million), state bonding ($15-20 million) and Airport Authority bonds and trust fund ($5-10 million).
