Wilmington International Airport is getting federal help for a runway extension.
The Wilmington airport is to receive a $6.3 million grant through the Airport Improvement Program.
The news came with the announcement by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy of a $615 million investment to improve runway and taxiway infrastructure, invest in family-friendly features in terminals and support critical airfield safety upgrades in 42 states and two territories. In all, 238 grants were funded.
“Upgrading our airport infrastructure is part of our work to usher in the Golden Age of Transportation,” Duffy said in a news release. “American families deserve state-of-the-art runways, taxiways and infrastructure that will make their travel experience safer,
smoother, and more efficient.”
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford said in the news release: “We’re improving safety and efficiency at airports throughout the U.S. We’re prioritizing these grants in a time when Americans are traveling more than ever, ensuring we fulfill our promise to transform the passenger travel experience.”
It's the latest in response to the airport's growth. The airport is investing roughly $243 million in airport infrastructure by 2031. Wilmington International has already invested $55 million in its capital improvement plan, which started in 2022.
Work is scheduled to be completed next year on the extension of the departure and arrivals curb, which was built in 1989 to handle 200,000 passengers, far below the record-setting 1.8 million that flew through the airport in 2025. The improvements will add over 70,000 square feet of infrastructure, including a commercial drop-off curb for taxis and ride share services. The new curb is expected to open in March 2027.
Two separate roadway projects are anticipated to begin construction in November 2027. Hall Drive will be extended through Blue Clay Road to Castle Hayne Road, which connects traffic directly to Interstate 140. ILM is also working with N.C. Department of Transportation to widen 23rd Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Airport Boulevard.
In ILM’s 2026 Vision Plan, airport officials anticipate that a second parking garage could be built by 2033. A four-floor garage would create up to 1,500 spaces and comes with an estimated price tag of $50 million.
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at RLiepa@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington airport gets federal grant for improvements
