Minot International Airport has been awarded more than $2.8 million from the State of North Dakota for airport improvements, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

The funds will be used toward projects that include runway rehabilitation, wildlife hazard removal, snow plow and mower purchases, access road reconstruction and public address system replacement in the terminal. The largest share, $810,000, is allocated to install airfield water, sewer and gas utilities.

The Aeronautics Commission approved $81.6 million in state infrastructure grants for public airports across North Dakota to support maintenance and development projects at commercial service and general aviation airports. Many of the allocations will be used to match federal funds.

The investments come at a time when the state has seen 12 consecutive months of record-breaking airline passenger totals, according to the commission.

In total, 182 individual projects at 61 public-use airports received funding in this state grant round. Commercial service airports shared in $78.1 million, and general aviation airports received $3.5 million.

Most of the grant funding, $70.3 million, comes from the state Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund. Another $5.9 million is provided through the Airport Infrastructure Fund created under the 2019 Operation Prairie Dog legislation, and $5.4 million is drawn from the Aeronautics Commissin’s Special Fund, which is primarily supported by state aviation fuel and aircraft sales tax revenues.

In addition to the Minot airport, funding for commercial service projects includes expansion of the commercial terminal in Fargo, new commercial terminal construction in Dickinson, primary runway reconstruction in Grand Forks and taxiway reconstruction in Bismarck.

Williston received $26,953 to purchase snow removal equipment.

General aviation awards included:

– Bottineau, $4,925 for beacon replacement and vault foundation construction.

– Crosby, $6,461 for the runway and lighting system, $3,375 for design of a public hangar, $25,326 for crack sealing and $10,758 for topsoiling and reseeding turf taxiway.

– Garrison, $24,219 for crack sealing and $2,076 for cones for crosswind runway.

– Harvey, $30,998 for public hangar construction and $8,328 for public hangar apron construction.

– Kenmare, $10,250 for snow removal equipment, $23,818 for crack sealing and $23,294 for airside pavement markings.

– Mohall, $514,644 for drainage improvements and $22,436 for crack sealing.

– New Town, $21,303 for crack sealing and $6,250 for GPS approach maintenance agreements.

– Parshall, $10,450 for design and environmental assessment for runway extension, $25,193 for crack sealing and $4,942 for new beacon installation.

– Rugby, $2,498 for design of airfield pavement rehabilitation, $5,152 for crack sealing and $7,116 to install FAA weather camera system.

– Stanley, $14,439 for west apron construction and $16,128 for crack sealing.

– Tioga, $27,844 for airfield microsurface seal coat, $7,500 for rebid costs of the airfield microsurface seal coat and $124,373 to relocate and expand fuel farm.

– Watford City, $37,249 for construction of a snow removal equipment building.