Worcester Airport awarded $1.1M DOT grant

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With work already underway to demolish and refurbish the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) tower at Worcester Regional Airport, the project has received a $1.1 million federal grant from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to help pay the $3 million price, MassPort announced Thursday.

“I’m pleased that this grant has come through, and that we continue to see significant improvements underway at Worcester Regional Airport,” Rep. Jim McGovern said in a statement. “Under Massport’s leadership, and with ongoing federal support, the airport is moving in the right direction. I look forward to seeing the completed building next year.”

Originally opened in 1953, the airport’s ARFF tower housed airport maintenance, safety, air traffic control, communications, and weather services until 1996 when air traffic control functions moved to a new facility on the south side of the property and the building became unoccupied, said Massport, which operates the airport.

The project is expected to be complete in April 2015, with ARFF equipment relocated to the north side of the facility where larger bays can accommodate modern equipment. Other essential airport functions, staff, offices, and equipment will be housed in the first and second floors of the former tower’s refurbished base, according to Massport.