Tulsa's Jones Riverside Airport Lands State Grant

Airports in Tulsa and Miami have been awarded nearly $213,000 in state grants from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission for airport projects.

In a news release, Tulsa's Jones Riverside Airport will receive a $77,633 state grant for phase II of a $1.5 million project to install a new runway-taxiway lighting control system and relocating the airport's beacon.

Tulsa Deputy Airports Director Jeff Hough said existing airfield guidance signs at the airport on Elwood Drive do not currently meet FAA standards. He says signage upgrades will reduce the potential for runway incursions.

"They (guidance signs) are a good 20-25 or more years old, and we really want to get those things upgraded so that we can promote better safety and good situational awareness on the airport. In addition, we have a large amount of flight training activity on the airport. So both the flight instructors and student pilots will benefit from those upgrades," Hough stated.

The commission also awarded a $135,186 state grant to the City of Miami that will be used to repave an existing runway at Miami Municipal Airport, as well as extend the new parallel taxiway already under construction by 975 feet.

The grant funds are from the Commission's Capital Improvement Program, which the news release says helps Oklahoma communities improve their local airports for certain infrastructure projects such as runway and taxiway construction, airfield signage purchases, and terminal and navigation equipment upgrades.