Pearson among SW Washington airports getting portion of $1.39 million in FAA grants

CENTRALIA — Five grants from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) totaling $1.39 million will help fund renovations for airports in Grays Harbor, Lewis and Clark counties, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell announced this week.

The FAA awarded more than $608 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to airports across the country on Thursday.

Washington state airports received 29 grants totaling $38.68 million, the second-highest allocation to any one state. AIP grants fund airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, airport signage, airport lighting and airport markings.

“As we continue our pandemic recovery, more Washingtonians are taking to the skies and showing just how crucial it is to make investments now in our airport infrastructure to prepare for future growth,” Cantwell said. “This $38.68 million in airport infrastructure funding will play a vital role in maintaining Washington state’s airport conditions and increasing passenger capacity. These grants will help ensure that our airports grow in tandem with the regions they serve.”

In Grays Harbor County, $866,759 will go to Bowerman Airport to seal and repair cracks on 5,000 feet of the existing Runway 6/24 surface and existing parallel taxiway surface, and to install seven replacement airfield guidance sign fixtures to meet FAA standards.

Also, $180,000 will go to Ocean Shores Municipal Airport to remove airport tree and vegetation obstructions from the Runway 33 approach path.

In Lewis County, $100,000 will be awarded to Packwood Airport to update the airport master plan narrative report and layout plan to address key issues, objectives and goals pertinent to the facility’s future development.

Likewise, $100,000 will be allocated to Ed Carlson Memorial Field at the South Lewis County Airport for the same purposes.

In Clark County, $150,000 will go to Pearson Field Airport for the design phase of reconstructing the existing airport lighting vault, acquiring a new emergency generator to ensure electrical service to the airfield in the event of a power outage and reconstructing the existing Runway 8/26 edge lighting system to meet FAA standards.