Whiteside, Dixon airports getting state grant money for rehab work

Four regional airports will be getting a share of $94 million in Rebuild Illinois grant money to improve access roads and parking and other upgrades.

Each airport will have to kick in 10% of its project costs, while the state grant will pay for the rest.

Whiteside County Airport in Rock Falls and Dixon Municipal Airport both plan to improve their entrance roads and parking lots.

The Whiteside project is estimated to cost $450,000, of which the county will pay $45,000; Dixon’s share of its $340,000 project will be $34,000.

In Carroll County, the Tri-Township Airport in Savanna will pay $19,000 of the $190,000 needed to install new electric security gates for the airfield.

At Rochelle Municipal Airport in Ogle County, two projects are planned: a $320,000 improvement to its access road and parking lot, and a $230,000 replacement of both precision approach path indicators, which help pilots acquire and maintain the correct approach when landing. Its total share will be $550,000.

The funding represents the largest statewide capital investment program for airports in state history, Gov. JB Pritzker’s office said in the release announcing the grants.

“Crucially, these dollars are going first and foremost to projects that might not otherwise be eligible for the full federal funding that they need to finish,” Pritzker said in the release.