Ports Authority allocates $1.4M to improve Arecibo airport
The Puerto Rico Ports Authority announced the allocation of $1.4 million to rehabilitate the Antonio Nery Juarbe Pol Regional Airport in Arecibo, strengthening infrastructure at one of the island’s most important centers for sport aviation.
The new grant complements $853,992 previously issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which covers 95% of the project’s total cost.
Ports Authority Executive Director Norberto Negrón said the award is the result of coordinated efforts between the agency’s Planning and Engineering departments to ensure full compliance with FAA requirements for capital improvement projects. The federal agency approved the local government’s grant request on Aug. 22, he said.
Among the upgrades included in the rehabilitation are the milling and laying of new asphalt pavement on the general aviation apron and the airport’s main vehicle access. The works will also include new markings, the installation of aircraft tie-down systems, and improvements to lighting.
The FAA approval letter designates the Arecibo project as 3-72-0002-018-2025, outlining the parameters for development and completion under federal guidelines.
“We’re ready to begin this project, which is so important for the development of the northern part of the island,” Negrón said.
The Antonio Nery Juarbe facility currently features a single paved runway, designated 8/26, measuring 3,975 feet long and 60 feet wide. The airport serves a high volume of light sport aircraft and ultralights, making it the island’s leading hub for sport aviation. It has become a popular venue for skydiving and hosts a private school dedicated to the extreme sport. The facility also supports aviation training, with students using the airstrip for maneuvers such as stop-and-go landings.
Originally built during the Second World War, the airport was transferred to the Ports Authority for management in 1973.
