The top transportation official from Washington D.C. was in our area. Friday.
The secretary of transportation announced millions of dollars in stimulus money will be used to improve and equip the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
The stimulus money will be used to build a new air traffic control tower at the airport at the cost of nearly $18 million bucks.
"It's time we gave this airport a 21st century infrastructure consumers expect," transportation secretary Ray LaHood said.
He announced just over $13 million in federal stimulus money will help replace the outdated air traffic control tower.
He added he came here to thank Congressman Paul Kanjorski and Senator Bob Casey Junior for their support.
"They made the tough vote to pass this over $700 billion recovery plan of which this money is coming from and I want people to know that," LaHood said.
The current tower has been around for years.
Phil Gallagher is head of the air traffic controllers' union there. "We are in an out-dated, aging facility 50 years old that's held together with duct tape and strings," Gallagher said.
Another problem is controllers can't see part of a runway because the view is blocked by the new terminal.
Officials said the new tower will have a better view and will allow the airport to eventually tear down the old terminal building.
The tower project is expected to create about 140 construction jobs and help keep the 39 federal employees at the airport.
"It's a waste of money because there's not enough people that come through this airport. There's not enough flights going out of it," said Wayne Getz of Nanticoke.
"I think it's a good idea considering the outdated facility they are working in," said John Moon of Dupont.
About $4 million in stimulus money will equip the tower. Construction is expected to begin in December and it's expected to be completed in 2011 and in operation by 2012.
The secretary of transportation announced millions of dollars in stimulus money will be used to improve and equip the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.
The stimulus money will be used to build a new air traffic control tower at the airport at the cost of nearly $18 million bucks.
"It's time we gave this airport a 21st century infrastructure consumers expect," transportation secretary Ray LaHood said.
He announced just over $13 million in federal stimulus money will help replace the outdated air traffic control tower.
He added he came here to thank Congressman Paul Kanjorski and Senator Bob Casey Junior for their support.
"They made the tough vote to pass this over $700 billion recovery plan of which this money is coming from and I want people to know that," LaHood said.
The current tower has been around for years.
Phil Gallagher is head of the air traffic controllers' union there. "We are in an out-dated, aging facility 50 years old that's held together with duct tape and strings," Gallagher said.
Another problem is controllers can't see part of a runway because the view is blocked by the new terminal.
Officials said the new tower will have a better view and will allow the airport to eventually tear down the old terminal building.
The tower project is expected to create about 140 construction jobs and help keep the 39 federal employees at the airport.
"It's a waste of money because there's not enough people that come through this airport. There's not enough flights going out of it," said Wayne Getz of Nanticoke.
"I think it's a good idea considering the outdated facility they are working in," said John Moon of Dupont.
About $4 million in stimulus money will equip the tower. Construction is expected to begin in December and it's expected to be completed in 2011 and in operation by 2012.
