ConDig (23-Aug-18).  Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has secured nearly $80 million in federal funds for runway construction and noise mitigation.

The funding comes from the Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants to public agencies, private owners and entities for the planning and development of public-use airports.

Under the funding, a total of $65 million has been set aside for runway construction, $4.2 million for tarmac and $10.7 million for noise mitigation measures for surrounding residents.

“Today’s announcement is a much-needed investment to improve the quality of life for residents living near O’Hare Airport,” said US Senator Tammy Duckworth.

“This funding will also help ensure that O’Hare has the necessary resources to invest in airport infrastructure and to support local jobs. I will continue working with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to advocate for funding that results in safer, more reliable airports, as well as increased economic development in Chicago and across Illinois.”

The US construction industry continues to be buoyed by robust economic activity, with total construction starts for the first seven months of this year on an unadjusted basis hitting $471.4 billion, up 2% from the same period a year ago.

It comes despite starts falling 9% in July from the month prior to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $817.4 billion, according to latest figures from Dodge Data & Analytics.

It comes as nonresidential building crumbled 22% after surging 59% in June, which had been lifted by the start of two large-scale manufacturing plants and two massive office buildings.

But the residential building sector was up 2% and nonbuilding construction unchanged.