FAA awards Springfield airport $5.4M grant

The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Springfield-Branson National Airport for a multimillion-dollar grant.

The $5.4 million award for the Springfield airport is part of nearly $1 billion approved for 114 airports nationwide as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to a news release.

“Today’s funding not only helps modernize airports to meet the needs of travelers today and for years to come but also creates good-paying job opportunities in communities both large and small,” said Shannetta R. Griffin, FAA associate administrator for airports, in the release.

The funding for the Springfield airport has a specific earmark that's outlined in the grant award list: "Improve passenger terminal building by replacing up to five passenger boarding bridges that have exceeded their useful life."

Kent Boyd, public information and marketing manager for the airport, said via email that the grant would cover around 90% of the cost to replace five jet bridges.

"All five bridges that will be replaced are about 30 years old and have become high-maintenance items," Boyd said, noting the airport has 10 bridges. "If all goes according to plan, the new bridges should be installed by July 2025."

The only other grant award in Missouri is to $3.2 million for the Kirksville Regional Airport to construct a replacement terminal, according to the release.