More progress is being made to the Perry Municipal Airport to accommodate pilots.

City Administrator Sven Peterson explains that after the initial phase of the reconstruction of the new runway was completed in August of 2024, the next phase is to tear out the old runway in order to make for additional upgrades.

“Using that for subbase for a brand new concrete parallel taxiway. So the original 4,000 foot runway, and then future project will be extending that taxiway to full 5,500 feet of the runway.”

Peterson outlines that the city is investing approximately $20 million into the airport as the project is 95 percent funded by the Federal Aviation Administration with a five percent local match. According to Airport Manager Jack Butler, the contractor, Concrete Technology Incorporated, is meeting with city officials to determine whether to begin construction either this fall or spring of 2026.