Lehigh Valley International Airport is getting nearly $40.1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build a cargo facility to support the region’s growing economy.
The funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will support the Northside Logistics and Cargo Complex project, which will add an on-airport cross dock, a direct truck-to-aircraft loading apron, and road and intersection improvements, according to a news release from U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman’s offices.
The project is aimed at improving day-to-day operations and the movement of freight at an airport that has seen cargo volumes increase by about 800% since 2014, officials say.
“This funding is critical to helping the Airport Authority address an immediate need for additional air cargo capacity — which has seen approximately an 800% jump since 2014. With the Airport located within the Critical Urban Freight Corridor, we anticipate our numbers will continue to trend upward as the airport is an important conduit to the movement of goods across Pennsylvania and the Northeast Region,” said Executive Director Tom Stoudt in a statement. “We are thankful for the strong support from Senator Casey, Senator Fetterman, and Congresswoman Wild in securing the INFRA grant, ensuring the airport can have the necessary infrastructure to remain an economic driver for the region and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
The funding was made possible through an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grant.