Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids has unveiled plans for a new air traffic control tower, a move that local authorities say could significantly enhance the economic vitality of West Michigan. During a Monday presentation, Rep. Hillary Scholten (D - Michigan) and airport officials highlighted the benefits of the prospective control tower, which comes as part and parcel of the expanding capabilities of the airport. The outdated tower, a facility that’s been an airport fixture for over 60 years, is slated for replacement after being deemed insufficient for the airport’s evolving needs.
As reported by FOX 17 News, the current structure falls short of modern design and security standards, and its limitations are purportedly costing GRR approximately $3 million in annual revenue. These constraints are not only physical in terms of the tower’s height and location but also extend to procedural aspects, impacting potential expansion projects. Among the most significant is an inability to construct a much-needed new parking garage close the terminal.
Tory Richardson, CEO of the GRR Airport Authority, emphasized the significance of the project, stating to FOX 17 News that “the airport supports more than 40,000 jobs and contributes over 7 billion to West Michigan’s economy each year." Such economic impacts illustrate the broader implications of the airport’s infrastructural modernization. These efforts are backed by Rep. Scholten, a vocal advocate for the tower's replacement, who has been lobbying for upgrades for nearly three decades. "Those types of developments really should occur, and we should be able to grow organically here at the airport," Richardson told News Channel 3, lamenting the current challenges.
Funding remains an elementary piece of the puzzle, with estimates for the new control tower hovering between $60 million to $70 million. After some progress with a $5 million funding commitment obtained through congressionally directed spending in 2022, implications of a federal grant loom large. "No amount of resources here locally will matter until the FAA is willing to put the money behind the air traffic control tower to fund its relocation,” Scholten pointed out in an interview with FOX 17 News. Additionally, a provision requiring FAA to consider replacement of towers more than 50 years old at small hub commercial service airports, like Ford, further underscores the anticipated federal involvement in the project.
Local leaders and airport officials are framing the new control tower as a critical investment in the region’s infrastructure that can propel the airport into its next 60-plus years of operation. "We need to see the facility built and designed to maintain the operational capabilities for the next 60-plus years," said Richardson, looking ahead to long-term strategic growth. According to an article by WOODTV, the new tower is earmarked for the east side of the airport, with current discussions on the fate of the existing tower leaning towards demolition. Construction of the new site is expected to span approximately three years upon securing the necessary funds.
