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MBS International Airport receives funding for runway repair

MBS International Airport.
The Midland Daily News
MBS International Airport.

MBS International Airport has been awarded federal grant funding which will allow them to repair their secondary runway.

Airport Director James Canders said the $367,200 dollar grant will go toward designing the project.

“All these grants, they're vital to the airport here at MBS. Without them, we would not be able to maintain the infrastructure here,” he said.

A pavement study conducted two years ago showed MBS was in imminent need of runway repairs. Canders said runways, taxiways and lighting systems at the airport typically have to be replaced every 15-20 years.

“We're definitely at that limit for a lot of our pavements,” he said.

They applied for the funds this past spring, and Canders said the grant was approved quicker than usual.

He said the design project will be completed in late 2023. The airport will have to receive another grant from the Department of Transportation before they can begin construction.

“We're excited to be getting the funds and moving forward with the project, especially in these times,” Canders said.

Renovations will include new asphalt, fresh runway markings and updated edge lighting.

Jill Harrington is a senior at CMU majoring in journalism and minoring in theatre and interpretation. Jill grew up in Novi, Michigan and started reporting for WCMU in summer 2022.