LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Three Arkansas airports will be receiving federal funding for major infrastructure projects as part of a new effort announced Thursday.
The $30.275 million will fund terminal improvements at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, the Texarkana Regional Airport and the Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville.
This funding is part of the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminal Program, which will deliver a total of $5 billion in total designed to improve domestic airports by 2026.
Clinton National’s $8 million in funding will be used for the second of a four-phase construction of a new 70,000-square-foot central utility plant. In this phase, drainage will be completed as will utility relocation and the replacement of two switchboards.
Shane Carter, director of public affairs and governmental relations for the airport, said the funding is updating 52-year-old infrastructure.
“The central utility plant will replace 52-year-old infrastructure and, once in service, will allow for the construction of a new baggage claim and security checkpoint, among other terminal upgrades,” Carter explained.
The Texarkana airport will use its $9.275 million to fund the final phase of construction for its new terminal building, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Work will be done to the building’s exterior, and accessible sidewalks, security fencing, concrete driveways and impact-rated bollards will be put in place.
The $13 million heading to XNA is earmarked for projects looking to increase energy efficiency and improvements for those with access or functional needs.
FAA officials said this will include expanding the terminal, adding an upper-level walkway bridge, replacing and adding escalators and updating its baggage system.
