OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The Oklahoma Aerospace and Aeronautics Commission has officially begun a five-year, $353 million airport construction initiative that aims to improve airports across the state.
The Commission recently approved a proposed FY 2026-2030 Five-Year Airport Construction Program.
“Oklahoma’s airport system is vital to local communities and is essential for economic prosperity and the well-being of all Oklahomans,” said Grayson Ardies, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics. “As the industry continues to grow, we’ll continue to assess, make recommendations and collaborate with local officials to ensure we’ve got the safest infrastructure and best economic development tools for each community’s needs.”
The Airport Construction Program is a strategic initiative that invests over $353 million in federal and state funds across the Oklahoma Airport System. The investment began on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year, according to Oklahoma Aerospace officials.
The program has the following three objectives:
- Enhance airport facilities
- Aid economic growth
- Ensure that Oklahoma air travel is safe and efficient
Aerospace and Aeronautics commissioners reviewed then unanimously approved the airport enhancement projects for which the funds will be used.
Repairing tornado damage at the Shawnee Regional Airport is chief among the projects.
Shawnee’s airport was hit by an EF-3 tornado in April 2023, causing massive damage to the facility, including the terminal building.
Airport Construction Program funds will be used to not only repair the damage but also add improvements that will make the airport better than it was prior to the tornado, Oklahoma Aerospace officials said.
There are a total of 125 projects across 67 communities in the Airport Construction Program.
Improvements to Shawnee’s airport include $3.825 million construction of a new replacement terminal and building hangars, taxiways, utilities and access roads in a new 40+ acre area to provide more site-ready locations for aviation businesses.
The funding initiative provide more than $30 million to Max Westheimer Airport in Norman for airfield optimization projects, including multiple runway extensions, pavement strengthening and hangar construction.
Stroud Municipal Airport and Robert S. Kerr Airport in Poteau will receive runway extensions to accommodate larger aircraft, thanks to the funding.
The funds will also afford the community of Atoka to relocate its airport, and Pawhuska to relocate its airport’s runway to meet safety standards.
Other notable Airport Construction Program projects are as follows, with funding from Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and matching funds from local municipalities:
- Ardmore Municipal Runway Rehabilitation – Total Project Cost: $5 million, ODAA Share: $250,000, Local Match: $250,000
- Boise City Terminal Construction – Total Project Cost: $891,946, ODAA Share: $250,000, Local Match: $289,195
- Chandler Municipal Airport Perimeter Fencing Construction – Total Project Cost: $400,000, ODAA Share: $380,000, Local Match: $20,000
- Chickasha Municipal Airport Terminal Construction – Total Project Cost: $2,500,000, ODAA Share: $1 million, Local Match: $1.5 million
- Clarence E. Page (Yukon) Airport Runway Rehabilitation – Total Project Cost: $1,618,813, ODAA Share: $80,905, Local Match: $80,906
- Elk City Regional Airport Jet-A Fuel System Installation – Total Project Cost: $1.387 million, ODAA Share: $500,000, Local Match: $447,200
- Enid Woodring Regional Airport Hangar Construction – Total Project Cost: $2.5 million, ODAA Share: $1 million, Local Match: $1.5 million
- Guymon Municipal Airport Taxiway and Lighting Rehabilitation – Total Project Cost: $2 million, ODAA Share: $100,000, Local Match: $100,000
- Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport Hangar Construction – Total Project Cost: $2.1 million, ODAA Share: $840,000, Local Match: $110,000
- Skiatook Municipal Airport T-Hangar Apron – Total Project Cost: $879,000, ODAA Share: $835,355, Local Match: $43,965
- Stigler Regional Airport Taxiway Construction – Total Project Cost: $4 million, ODAA Share: $200,000, Local Match: $200,000
- West Woodward Apron Reconstruction – Total Project Cost: $2,595,596, ODAA Share: $129,781, Local Match: $129,781
“The above listed infrastructure projects are just examples of some of the construction activities that are a part of the comprehensive program to enhance airport infrastructure and ensure the state’s aviation facilities meet current and future needs to achieve the goal of having a safe, efficient, and effective air transportation system,” Oklahoma Aerospace officials said.
