photo by: Submitted photo/Lloyd Hetrick

Lawrence Municipal Airport is pictured in this aerial photo from summer 2019.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announced the distribution of funding for the Kansas Airport Improvement Program, including an $184,435 grant for repairs at the Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The grant requires a minimum 10% match from the city, or a contribution of at least $18,443, and will help repair the taxi lanes at the airport, according to a news release from the city. The taxi lanes that will be repaired with the funding include the pavement that flanks both sides of T-Hangar Building A and pavement that is directly north of T-Hangar Buildings B and C.

“We are very excited to be awarded the funding for this project,” Lawrence Municipal Airport Manager Amanda Sahin said in the release. “This project is of high importance to the Lawrence Municipal Airport tenants, and we are happy to know that this funding will help make the repairs a reality.

The Kansas Airport Improvement Program receives $5 million annually through KDOT’s IKE transportation program, and Lawrence’s project was one of 32 communities selected for the funding. The award follows a $4 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration awarded to the city earlier this year that was used to complete a major rehabilitation of a runway at the airport.

The city owns and operates the airport, which is located north of town on U.S. Highway 24/40. The funds for the taxi lane repairs will be available in the summer of 2021.