Now, Martin State Airport in Maryland Breaks Ground on New Air Traffic Control Tower: What New Updates You Must Know

Published on July 10, 2025

Martin State Airport in Middle River, Maryland, has started its next chapter in its air traffic control management after the groundbreaking for the newest air traffic control tower. The cost of the new facility has been approximately $22.2 million, and it will replace the old structure in service at the airport since 1942. The construction works were part of the larger project to modernize the air infrastructure in the state of Maryland and provide more assistance to the air traffic controllers and pilots in the region.

A Historic Upgrade for Safety and Efficiency

The existing air traffic control tower at Martin State Airport, in operation since 1942, has reached the end of its serviceable life. The new seven-story air traffic control tower will provide the air traffic controllers with significant improvements in line of sight, allowing them to manage the airport functions more precisely. The addition of the latest technology and advanced systems will contribute to the safe and efficient management of air traffic, more vital with the progressive increase in the number of flights.

Another prominent feature of the new tower is its advanced technology. The air traffic control system in the tower will be the newest one, allowing for increased communication between the pilots and air traffic controllers. Additionally, the strategic location of the tower on the airport complex will also provide controllers with an unobstructed line of sight over the runways, directly impacting the airport operations’ safety and efficiency.

The expanded facilities will not only ensure the security of airport operations but will also be in a position to accommodate additional flights and larger volumes of air traffic. This is more critical for a facility serving the general aviation community, law enforcement, and the military.

Funding and Government Support

This ambitious $22.2 million construction initiative is being funded by various sources of funding, including the FAA grants and the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund. The Maryland Transportation Fund is one of the principal funding streams for the State for the purpose of supporting transportation-related infrastructure developments around the State, and its investment in the new tower is evidence of the commitment of State to the aviation safety sector. The FAA, in its efforts to advance the role of aviation in the United States, has also offered grant funding in the way of ensuring the airport has the capability to meet present standards of safety.

The project would be part of one of the larger-scale undertakings to promote the aerospace infrastructure in the state, and it will keep Maryland competitive in the evolving global market for air services.

Economic and Community Development

Besides the impact on air traffic flow, the new air traffic control tower will bear long-term regional economic advantages. Martin State Airport is a vital regional general and military airport. The airport serves as the headquarters for the Maryland Air National Guard and brings invaluable defense and law enforcement capacity to the region. The airport is responsible for sustaining 2,300 regional jobs and generating millions of regional economic output.

The new tower will handle additional flights, and this will lead to additional passenger traffic and air cargo activities. With the airport’s expanded capacity to handle additional flights, the airport will contribute more to assisting the state’s economy by driving the creation of jobs as well as growing the economy. The new tower will also allow for the creation of additional job opportunities in aviation support services, enhancing the region’s future economic development.

Furthermore, the world-class facilities at Martin State Airport will increase the airport’s appeal as a future headquarters for new avionics firms and businesses, and will be a component of the State’s comprehensive economic plan.

Project Description and Schedule

Construction of the new air traffic control tower is being undertaken by Towson Mechanical, the local mechanical contractor with its headquarters in Parkville, Maryland. Towson Mechanical was selected because it has expertise in undertaking large infrastructure construction works, and the company will hand over the tower by September 2026.

The tower will incorporate the latest systems to increase operating efficiency, and the construction will involve different local firms, helping to promote the local economy. The construction project will take approximately 18 months to complete, and most of the construction will be in the coming years. The new tower, once completed, will be equipped with modern technology in order to help air traffic controllers to be as safe and efficient as possible. The structure will also meet the ADA guidelines in order to have the newest access guidelines in the building