Posted on: Monday, January 24, 2005

State will inspect airports

Associated Press

The state Department of Transportation will use $447,768 from the airport special fund to inspect airfields and to update pavement management systems plans for 14 airports throughout the state.

The federal government's share of the project is $2.3 million, according to state officials, who said Saturday that Gov. Linda Lingle has released the state money.

Data collected from the inspections will be used to formulate new short- and long-term plans to maintain and upgrade airfields, the governor's office said.

"This important preventative effort, which uses airport special funds and federal dollars, will help in our ongoing plan to improve the airport infrastructure on all islands," DOT director Rod Haraga said.

The inspection project will cover the Honolulu International, Dillingham and Kalaeloa airports on O'ahu; the Lihu'e and Port Allen airports on Kaua'i; the Kalaupapa and Moloka'i airports on the Friendly Isle; the Kahului and Hana airports on Maui; Lana'i Airport; and the Hilo International, Kona International, Upolu and Waimea-Kohala airports on the Big Island.