April 25, 2012 - U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a $7.1 million grant for the next phase of the Runway 14-32 rehabilitation project at Pittsburgh International Airport. 

"This project will help keep the airport moving safely and efficiently for the more than four million passengers that fly through Pittsburgh each year," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "Investing in our nation's airports also creates jobs and promotes economic growth in communities like Pittsburgh." 

The grant will help pay for rehabilitation of Runway 14-32, an 8,101-foot crosswind runway at the airport. When strong winds are blowing across the other major runways at the airport, Runway 14-32 allows aircraft to safely take off and land into the wind.

"Upgrading airport infrastructure at airports like Pittsburgh International maintains a safe air transportation system," Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. Phase 6 of the Runway 14-32 rehabilitation will replace the concrete slab at the intersection of Runway14-32 and Runway 10C-28C, the primary center runway, between June and October 2012. Runways 10L-28R and 10R-28L will remain open during the construction. 

According to the Alleghany County Airport Authority, the runway rehabilitation project is expected to create approximately 200 direct and indirect jobs over the seven-year life of the project. The full runway rehabilitation project began in 2008 and is scheduled to be complete by 2014. The project is being done in phases to coincide with the construction season and funding availability. 

The total project cost is estimated to be $42.2 million with funding from the Airport Improvement Program, Passenger Facility Charges, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Pennsylvania Aviation Development Funds, and the Allegheny County Airport Authority. 

Pittsburgh International Airport formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil?military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately 20 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh. 

PIT is the second busiest passenger airport in Pennsylvania and 47th-busiest in the United States, serving 8,710,291 passengers in 2008 on 167,729 aircraft operations. The airport has the longest runways of a commercial airport in Pennsylvania at 11,500 feet. Until 2004, US Airways operated its largest hub at PIT.