U.S. Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) announced this week that that construction of a new air traffic control tower at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., finally can get underway.
The project will receive $18 million in funding from the U.S. Air Force’s approved fiscal year 2019 military construction account, Rep. Roby said on Oct. 31, effectively ending a policy battle she’s waged since 2014.
“I am very pleased that this issue is being addressed through the recently passed military funding bill, and I look forward to seeing this improvement become reality as Maxwell continues to support the needs of the Air Force in the River Region, including the 187th Fighter Wing’s missions,” the congresswoman said earlier this week.
The Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base has provided direct support to the 187th Fighter Wing in airfield operations, primarily as an alternate basing location, according to Rep. Roby’s statement. However, the tower cannot adequately support the 187th Fighter Wing’s new F-35 mission, she said.
Constructed in 1955, Maxwell-Gunter’s existing air traffic control tower is among the Air Force’s oldest active towers, according to Roby’s statement, and the tower has failed to meet current mission requirements and safety codes.
“Updating the air traffic control tower at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base is long overdue,” Rep. Roby said. “I have personally climbed up the antiquated tower and can attest to how dangerous it is and how badly it needs to be replaced.”
Rep. Roby first disclosed the tower’s operation and location issues in 2014 and at the time said air traffic controllers there handled roughly 14,000 fights annually, despite part of the runway there being blocked from the tower’s view.