August 27, 2025

Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $87 Million for Chicago Airport Improvements

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $87,590,952 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. This funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will help improve taxiways, accommodate more passengers, alleviate noise pollution and make travelling through O’Hare and Midway easier for passengers.

“Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state and the source of jobs for so many working families,” Duckworth said. “I’m glad to see this federal funding coming to our state at a time when the Trump Administration has continued to revoke so much critical funding across the country. I will keep working alongside Senator Durbin to advocate for federal investments that will make our skies safer, make travelling easier, modernize our airport infrastructure and support economic development across Illinois.”

“O’Hare and Midway keep millions of Americans connected with reliable air travel. By improving and modernizing their infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced federal funding for our Chicago airports will enhance the travel experience for passengers. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep travelers safe and connected.”

Recipients of funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grant Program include:

  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (Chicago):
    • $29,971,297 to help reconstruct an existing 3,500 feet service road used by ground service, airport operations and FAA vehicles.
    • $12,520,494 to help install residential noise mitigation measures for approximately 210 residences affected by airport noise exposure.
    • $10,448,503 to expand Terminal 3 and accommodate more passengers and more cargo by including additional circulation area, larger hold room spaces, checkpoint areas, expansion and modernization of public access areas, renovations for a relocated baggage claim area and a new baggage sortation area.
    • $3,119,958 to help reconstruct an existing 2,700-foot service road used by ground service, airport operations and FAA vehicles.
    • $1,857,143 to support the reconstruction of an existing 5,000-foot taxiway.
    • $1,517,250 to rehabilitate 3,200 feet of existing South Cargo Taxilane pavement and modernize taxiways to maintain pavement integrity and minimize foreign object debris.
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (Chicago):
    • $28,156,307 to rehabilitate runways and modernize taxiways to ensure long-term pavement integrity, minimize foreign object debris and install new runway lighting.

-30-