Caribou airport to receive $268,500

14 years ago

WASHINGTON. D.C. — U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins announced on May 16 that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded approximately $2.3 million in competitive grant funding to Maine communities for local airport improvements. 

“Maine’s aviation infrastructure keeps its residents connected with the rest of the country and the world,” the senators  said. “These FAA grants will help these small airports make the necessary upgrades and developments to improve their air travel services and safety.”

Included among the nine airports receiving FFA funding is the Caribou Municipal Airport, which will receive $268,500. This grant will provide federal funding to begin removal of potential obstructions near the runway at the Caribou Municipal Airport.

Funds will be allocated for the first part of a three phase plan, the first of which to take place this summer.     

According to Caribou City Manager Steve Buck, who oversees the Caribou Municipal Airport, phase one will focus on removing trees that penetrate airspace around the airfield; the land surrounding the airfield will be seeded with grass and mowed to eliminate future airspace-penetrating growth.

To be completed in the coming years, Phase II will address off-site obstructions (such as trees) that penetrate the airspace. Phase III also address off-site obstructions but requires a bit of earthwork; cost savings has been identified in implementing Phase III in conjunction with runway reconstruction in 2015.