Airport Receives Additional Grant for Phase 2 Expansion

Congressman Henry Cuellar, (TX-28), presented the City of McAllen with $972,145 in federal funding for the McAllen Miller International Airport, Wednesday.

The funds, made available by the Federal Aviation Administration, will be used for the Phase 2 design of the terminal expansion project, including a drainage master plan study, runway safety study, wildlife hazard assessment and runway rehabilitation.

During his visit, Congressman Cuellar got a close-up look at an ongoing rehabilitation effort made possible through an 11 million dollar grant, presented to the City of McAllen last year.  The work, which adds shoulders to the runway and blast pads, increases safety and the life of the runway, which could be expanded to accomodate larger planes and more cargo traffic.

Miller International Airport Aviation Director Phil Brown said the City of McAllen is currently looking into extending the runway 3 to 10,000 feet.

"That study is ongoing.  It will be done sometime this fall," said Brown.  "In order to take the next step we have to have a favorable benefit cost analysis so we’ll look at the numbers, when the study is completed, talk to the FAA and if the numbers are favorable, the next step will be looking for funding from all the parties involved to be able to afford it.”

In addition to the runway improvements, the terminal will also be expanded.

“We are adding three gates so we will expand the concourse out to add three additional gates," Brown said.  "We’re also going to expand the security checkpoint which is undersized right now for the demand.  We will be adding an inbound bag belt, we’ll be expanding the outbound bag belt where they do the security check of the baggage, as well as expand our administrative offices.”

The new design, expected to be completed by the Fall of this year, will also include addition of new concessions and retail shops.

The airport recently acquired new bomb detection equipment for outgoing baggage and expects to add full body scan imagery technology by the beginning of July.