New taxiway to connect Houston Spaceport to Ellington Airport gets $16 million project approved

HOUSTON, Texas — Houston City Council approved Phase 1 construction of a taxiway linking the Houston Spaceport to Ellington Airport during its March 6 meeting.

Here’s what you should know:

Taxiway L, or Taxiway Lima, will span approximately 2 miles at Ellington Airport, as outlined in maps provided by the Houston Airport System.

The council unanimously approved the project’s first phase, with no comments made during the meeting.

The entire taxiway project will be completed in three phases, encompassing:

– Design and construction of the taxiway
– Installation of connectors on the south side
– Design and construction of runway shoulders with new edge lights
– Relocation of wind cones
– Addition of necessary markings, signage, and lighting
– Drainage enhancements

Phase 1 specifically focuses on designing and constructing the taxiway itself, along with one connector to a runway.

Funding for Phase 1, totaling $16 million, will be sourced from the Houston Airport System’s enterprise fund, with a portion potentially reimbursed through Federal Aviation Administration grants.

Director of Aviation for the Houston Airport System, Jim Szczesniak, stated that the taxiway will serve as a general airport improvement. Its strategic location will also unlock potential for the Houston Spaceport, offering 400 acres of land for future development.

The spaceport has already attracted three businesses to its premises: Collins Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and Axiom Space. The new taxiway is anticipated to facilitate further expansion, such as Axiom Space’s plan to construct the world’s first commercial space station at the spaceport.

Construction for the project is projected to commence in August or September, with completion estimated around 2026. The contract stipulates a timeframe of 640 days for completion.