US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced funding of 20 million USD to replace Duluth International Airport’s air traffic control (ATC) tower.
The funding comes in addition to a previously provided investment grant of 16.8 million USD, which was awarded as part of the Airport Terminal Program.
In total, the project, which will see the replacement of the airport’s existing traffic control tower with a modern equivalent, has an anticipated cost of 66 million USD.
The existing tower was built in the 1950s, and currently stands as the third-oldest within the US. The new tower will be double the height of the current tower, and improve lines of sight to the airfield.
US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said:During my visit in August, I saw firsthand the critical need to replace Duluth’s aging air traffic control tower — one of the oldest still used in the country.
This $20 million investment moves the project closer to construction and ensures controllers will have the modern equipment they need to keep air travel safe. This administration is delivering real results for communities like Duluth.
The funding will enable Duluth to move forward with the replacement project in one single construction phase instead of two – saving over 5 million USD in the process by eliminating the need for phased work.
