Muhlenberg County Airport in Kentucky, US, has been given a $1.5m federal grant for a new parallel taxiway.

Awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, the grant will fund the construction phase of the taxiway, which will eliminate the need for the aircraft to backtaxi and subsequently improve safety at the airport.

Chairman of the US House Subcommittee on energy and power Ed Whitfield said: "This will provide the opportunity for growth and development within this community."

"This will provide the opportunity for growth and development within this community."

Bids on the new taxiway project are expected to open on 25 June. Dirt work is expected to begin later this year, while paving is likely to start in early 2015.

It is reported that the airport board is also expecting a state grant for paving an area around the new terminal to park planes.

Whitfield also announced that Russellville-Logan County Airport has received a federal grant of $3.67m to fund the design of a runway extension, in order to meet the operational needs of the airport.

The funding will also be used to acquire approximately 11 acres of land.