Rhinelander airport to receive over $1.5 million to address drainage issues, lighting, signage

Users of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport received an early Christmas present last week when Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced that the airport will receive over $1.5 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make necessary upgrades to improve safety and increase efficiency for travelers.

 “Wisconsin relies on our regional airports to connect travelers, commuters, and businesses to destinations around the world,” Senator Baldwin said in a press release announcing the funding. “I’m proud that my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making this investment to help keep our Made in Wisconsin economy moving forward and travelers in Northern Wisconsin safe for years to come.”

 According to Baldwin’s office, the investment comes through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, which is making a $15 billion investment over five years nationwide to upgrade runways, taxiways, safety and sustainability projects, as well as terminal, airport-transit connections and roadway projects. In just the first three years of the program, Wisconsin airports have received over $117 million in AIG grants, the release states.

 The $1.5 million grant for the County of Oneida and City of Rhinelander will be used to improve 15,000 square feet of the airport’s existing runway to address drainage issues, install new lighting on runways, and upgrade existing signage and navigation aids that provide pilots with critical airfield information, including an airport beacon that has reached the end of its useful life, the release states.

 “On behalf of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport Commission and its regional sponsors, we extend our gratitude to Senator Baldwin for her continued support of our facility,” said Matthew J. Leitner, Airport Director at Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport. “Funding for this comprehensive project will go toward supplanting much of our airport’s 45-year-old physical infrastructure. This will enhance our airport’s operational capabilities and further increase the economic contribution it makes to our region, which is already over $40,000,000 annually.”