U.S. aid for O.C. airport

A $4.74 million federal grant will fund construction of a 900-foot runway extension that will allow new jet traffic at the Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico County Regional Airport, according to Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin. Construction is expected to start in May. The airport offers direct flights to US Airways hubs in Philadelphia and Charlotte and served 120,000 passengers last year. The grant will also pay for the relocation of the Automated Surface Observation System, grading work on the runway and taxiway safety areas and a drainage system for the project. The grant is not related to the federal stimulus package