The Austin Municipal Airport was awarded a $1.8 million federal grant to be used for continued work on the airport expansion project.

The money will go toward extension and reconstruction of the airport taxiway. The 1,000-foot taxiway will run parallel to the runway. The starting date for construction is tentatively set for Aug. 7.

The grant covers 90 percent of the project's costs. A 10 percent match is required by the city, which will come from the airport fund, City Administrator Jim Hurm said.

The taxiway project is phase three of an ongoing airport expansion project. Phase one is a housing buyout, and phase two is the relocation of a county road, Assistant City Engineer Steven Lang said.

The next major project will likely be the expansion of the runway.

Congressman Gil Gutknecht announced the grant award Thursday along with grants for other airports in the first district.

Austin's award of $1.8 million was by far the largest of the seven that were announced. The next highest went to Fillmore county, which received $382,500.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com