Duluth International Airport is moving closer to replacing its 1950s-era air traffic control tower following an announcement Monday that the U.S. Department of Transportation will provide a $20 million federal grant for the project. The funding marks a significant step toward modernizing one of the oldest operational towers in the country.

Federal Support Builds Momentum

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the aging facility in August.

“We’d play Atari back in the 80s, right? Old school. That is like rockstar technology compared to what they are using here,” Duffy said following the tour.

Despite its age, the facility has seen a rise in traffic of around 10 percent year-over-year.

“Managing a mix of commercial flights, Air National Guard missions, and flight training opera

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