Prairie State Wire

Governor JB Pritzker, alongside the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), celebrated a $5.4 million investment aimed at enhancing safety, reliability, and efficiency at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia Heights and Sauget. The improvements are part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which focuses on boosting airport business and global competitiveness.

Governor Pritzker announced that construction is underway for a new engine run-up ramp with taxiway access, a noise mitigation barrier, and a compass calibration pad. "These facilities will not only improve cost effectiveness, but they will also enhance St. Louis Downtown Airport's capacity to serve passengers from Illinois and across the globe," he stated.

The project features a ground run-up and compass calibration pad with new airfield pavement and jet blast deflectors. This addition will support over 500 annual aircraft maintenance tests requiring high-power engine operation on the ground. It is designed to reduce noise levels by more than 50% while accommodating large aircraft.

Funded through a $5 million Rebuild Illinois grant and supplemented by a $400,000 local contribution, construction began last year and is expected to conclude in June.

State Representative Kevin Schmidt expressed gratitude for the project's potential economic impact: "This project will help maintain and attract more high-tech aerospace manufacturing jobs to our area." State Representative Jay Hoffman highlighted the importance of ongoing investments in infrastructure for regional growth.

State Senator Christopher Belt emphasized the need for such projects given the airport's status as one of Illinois' busiest outside Chicago. He noted that these efforts are crucial as downstate Illinois expands.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman underscored aviation's role in the state's economy: "Through Rebuild Illinois, we're delivering transformational projects just like this one across all modes of transportation in every region of our state."

St. Louis Downtown Airport significantly contributes to local economies with an annual economic impact exceeding $422 million and supporting over 1,500 jobs. The airport accommodates recreational flying, business operations, flight instruction, and houses several maintenance organizations including Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

Rebuild Illinois represents a $33.2 billion investment over six years into various transportation modes across the state. In 2021 alone, Governor Pritzker allocated $94 million to airports statewide under this program.

In Metro East specifically, Rebuild Illinois funds several projects including road relocations, resurfacing initiatives, interstate reconstructions, bridge building efforts with Missouri over the Mississippi River, and extending MetroLink services from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica Airport.