ST. LOUIS — The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday announced $48.8 million in funding for expansion project and noise abatement at Lambert Airport.
The grants will help fund the $1.1 billion expansion project at Lambert, a project aimed at allowing the airport to handle more traffic and reduce flight delays. Part of the money will also buy out homes near the expansion project and help reduce the impact of noise on homes that remain.
Lambert is adding a third runway as part of the so-called W-1W project. The expansion project is expected to be complete by 2006.
The grants include:
n $22.1 million to help construct the new parallel runway. The FAA said paving is expected to begin this summer.
n $7 million to rehabilitate an existing runway and a taxiway.
n $19.8 million for noise mitigation.
Part of the money will be used to buy hundreds of homes near the airport. Other homes will be soundproofed. Also, the grant will pay to build schools for the nearby town of Berkeley, replacing schools that formerly stood near the airport.