News Release

INDIANAPOLIS —The Indianapolis International Airport was recently awarded $26.6 million from the Federal Aviation Administration in a seventh round of Airport Infrastructure Grants funding totaling $289 million to 129 airports across 40 states, improving the safety and efficiency of air travel. The projects are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s AIG program, as part of the $25 billion Congress approved in federal funding dedicated to airport improvements across the country.

The Indy airport grant was one of the largest among airports selected to receive the latest round of funding. The funding will be applied to the reconstruction of IND Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D to improve safety.

In total, IND has received $146 million in federal grants for this reconstruction project.

“This project is a significant investment in the future of aviation operations at IND — and is crucial to maintaining the public value of the airport,” said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “It’s a 10,000-foot-long runway, vital to handling cargo operations and commercial airline traffic.”

The runway is at the center of the IAA’s three-year, three-phase $295 million reconstruction project to enhance IND’s capacity. The project, which includes LED runway and taxiway lighting, is in its final phase and will be completed later this year.

“This crucial project is an example of IAA’s commitment to doing the right thing at the right time,” said Jarod Klaas, IAA senior director of planning and development. “And investing in sustainable and resilient development, maintenance and operations, backed with the support of this funding, is how we maintain the public value of the airport over time.”

The IAA spent approximately $38.6 million with 34 diverse businesses for phase one and two. The construction project has created more than 3,200 jobs, across all three phases of the reconstruction.

IND’s runway project has earned high praise from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, which awarded it the Envision Platinum Award, the institution’s highest award for sustainability and resiliency. It is the first airfield project in the world to receive this prestigious recognition.

Link to the FAA’s Airport Infrastructure Grants to learn more.