(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) announced that the Louisville Regional Airport Authority is receiving $6.6 million in federal funding for construction at Louisville International Airport.  The funds will go toward completing work on the Taxiway Alpha project, which is designed to ensure Louisville can handle the largest and newest long-range commercial and passenger aircraft.

“Ever since the construction of UPS Worldport and the addition of thousands of new jobs in Louisville, the benefits of having an advanced and modern airport have been clear in our community,” said Congressman Yarmuth. “This federal investment will support construction that will ensure Louisville International is prepared for the commercial and cargo aircraft of the future, and all of the jobs and economic growth they can bring.”

A total of $6,628,193.00 in new fundingfrom the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be used for construction at Louisville International Airport.

“Congressman Yarmuth’s support for funds to construct this phase of Taxiway Alpha is critical to the Airport Authority’s Beyond 2010 plan, which will accommodate the larger 21^st century commercial aircraft. These state-of-the-art airfield improvements will help our community retain and attract even more aviation-related jobs,” noted Phil Lynch, Chairman of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors. 

The Taxiway Alpha project is a critical component of the Airport Authority’s long-term efforts to ensure Louisville International has the capacity to house larger, cutting edge Group VI classification aircraft, including the new Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380.

Begun in 2006, the Taxiway Alpha project is more than 50 percent complete. The taxiway will run parallel to the West runway. The funds announced by Yarmuth today are expected to move the project even closer to completion.