Craig Field receives financial boost

Published 9:51 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Craig Field Airport and Industrial Complex received another financial boost to finish the perimeter fencing project at the site.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., has announced a total of $6.2 million in federal grants awarded to 14 regional airports in Alabama for improvements. Selma was earmarked for $84,157.

“This is the last part of the security fencing money,” said Craig Field Executive Director Menzo Driskell.

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The project cost nearly $500,000 and is almost complete.

Earlier this year, the complex received $126,211 to help with the project, which includes five miles of 8-foot high fencing around the complex. At the time of the award, Shelby said the perimeter fencing is needed at Craig to prevent unauthorized access to the runway.

In this round of grants, Huntsville International Airport received the largest share, $2.6 million, to expand its terminal building, improve an access road and rehabilitate its apron. Montgomery Regional Airport got about $1.6 million to improve its runway.

Other grants and airports included Abbeville, $275,000; Camden, $288,075; Dauphin Island, $326,307; Hartselle, $101,307; Headland, $255,541; Fort Payne, $163,865; Oneonta, $132,080; Scottsboro, $125,247; Andalusia, $110,070; Talladega, $101,307 and Jasper, $76,101.