The Federal Aviation Administration joins Houston Airports in the groundbreaking celebration of Project 770 which will modernize some of the taxiways of Houston’s first commercial airport.
The highlighted portions of the airfield will be impacted by Project 770.
HOUSTON – Construction has begun on Project 770 at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). Project 770 will modernize the taxiways at Houston’s first commercial airport. Over $40 million issued for this project includes the demolition of sections of existing taxiways and the full or partial reconstruction of Taxiways D, E, G, M, K and K1.
The work on the taxiways is the second of two phases for the project. In June 2022, the first phase was completed when Runway 17/35 and Taxiways G2 and G3 were removed.
Since Fiscal Year 2014, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Houston Airports more than $40 million in Airport Improvement Program grants to fund the rehabilitation of existing runways and the reconstruction of taxiways.
“The FAA is working to update airport infrastructure across the country to meet standards,” said Ignacio Flores, FAA Director for the Southwest Region of the U.S. “At Hobby Airport, these efforts will result in a safer airfield for planes, passengers, and aviation workers. We will continue to support projects that enhance safety and make airports more resilient.”
Construction on the taxiways will take about 12 months to complete and will bring Hobby Airport’s decades-old infrastructure up to FAA standards. In conjunction with the work, Houston Airports is also improving drainage on the airfield and installing LED bulbs to make lighting across taxiways and runways energy efficient.
The FAA Airport Improvement Program provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). For large and medium primary hub airports, the grant covers 75% of eligible costs.
“Houston Airports is grateful for our continued partnership with the FAA and their continued investment in our critical infrastructure,” said Jim Szczesniak, Chief Operating Officer for Houston Airports. “These grants are a down payment to ensure Houston’s airports remain healthy economic engines as demand for air travel grows.”