WELSH — The Welsh Airport will benefit from more than $135,000 in state funds from the Louisiana Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division for safety upgrades at the local airport.

Mayor Karl Arceneaux said the funding will go toward the design of a runway rehabilitation project and obstruction removal project for the runway. The projects will be completed at no cost to the town, he said.

The funding includes $87,500 for the design of a runway rehabilitation project. The project calls for the design for future mill and overlay of the runway.

The airport was also awarded $48,530 for obstruction removal on the runway. The project consists of clearing and grubbing trees and other obstructions to the runway approach.

A bid of $59,000 was awarded to On Point Land Solutions for the removal of shrubs and trees from 17 acres of the airport property to help improve runway safety, Arceneaux said.

Additionally, the Welsh airport is one of 56 airports where the state is currently conducting a wildlife hazard assessment, according to DOTD Public Information Officer Tammy York.

As far as future development, Arceneaux said he would like to see fuel sold at the airport which would bring in more air traffic.

“And possibly, a long way off, on the wish list is some hangars built to attract more tenants,” he said.

Hangars at the airport are currently privately owned.