Sorensen Announces $14 Million for New Control Tower at Peoria International Airport
PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing over $14 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding for a new air traffic control tower at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport.
Sorensen fought to secure the funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminal Program. These funds will be used to replace an existing tower that has been in operation since 1959. The new tower will meet updated FAA standards and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
“A new air traffic control tower at Peoria International Airport helps bring us into the 21st century. It will allow the airport to operate more efficiently and effectively, while also making the flying experience safer for passengers. I am excited that families and businesses across Central Illinois will benefit from more modern operations. This type of investment is exactly what we need to help our communities become more sustainable for generations to come,” said Sorensen.
“We’re excited to execute the grant offer for $14,010,00 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law This money will fund construction of Phase 1 of the tower project, which includes the base building and associated costs. This is the first step in replacing the 65-year-old existing control tower and providing the FAA’s employees with a safe place to work that meets all of today’s standards, both aeronautical and structural,” said Gene Olson, Director of Airports for the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria. “We’d like to thank the congressional delegation representing the 17th and 18th Districts, as well as Senators Durbin and Duckworth, for their invaluable assistance in helping us obtain this funding.”
This $14,010,000 in funding was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria (MAAP) to replace a 65-year-old air traffic control tower owned and operated by Peoria International Airport.
The existing control tower is co-located with the airport’s old terminal which opened in 1959. The condition of the tower has deteriorated over the years and does currently meet FAA physical standards or requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The funding will be used to complete Phase 1 of the control tower replacement project, which includes constructing the base building.
Congressman Eric Sorensen serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.
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