October 17, 2024
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Funding for Lewis Airport in Romeoville included in federal bill

The $680,000 in funding will go toward fencing to keep out unauthorized people, animals and vehicles

By Alex Ortiz
A make-shift air traffic trailer can be seen Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. The airport is slated to receive $6 Million from the state's first capital bill in 10 years.

A makeshift air traffic trailer can be seen Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. (Eric Ginnard)

The spending package passed by Congress this past week included funding for safety enhancements at the Lewis University Airport in Romeoville.

U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, D-La Grange, announced that $680,000 was allocated to the Joliet Regional Port District to build necessary safety fencing at the Lewis airport, according to a news release.

The project will enhance safety for workers and property operating at the airport and will enclose active aircraft operations areas that are open to uncontrolled access from undesired and unauthorized animals, people and vehicles.

“By providing security fencing and gate control in the aircraft parking and storage area, this funding will provide a valuable service not only to our airport patrons, visitors and staff, but also the entire local community,” Chris Lawson, the director of aviation at the Joliet Regional Port District, said in the release.

The airport already is set to receive about $300,000 from the federal infrastructure law passed last year. The funding was meant to help build a new control tower operated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is set to open this year.

Lawson said the tower is needed to make operations safer and more efficient.

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