BEND, OR -- The Bend Airport is getting an air traffic control tower. "We have one of the top five busiest airports in the state, and we actually have twice as many take-off and landings than the Redmond Airport," says Mayor Melanie Kebler, "And of the top five busiest airports in the state, we’re the only one without an air traffic control tower."

She tells KBND News, "This has been a top priority when we poll the people that use our airport, that they want to see a tower." She says it's a matter of safety, "If you’re coming into our airport, you are just on the radio with everybody else, saying, ‘here I come.’ And trying to work with folks on the radio, instead of having an air traffic control tower that’s really telling everyone, ‘here’s where you go and here’s what you do.’"

The tower project comes with a $15 million price tag. "We have gotten some great grants from the federal government and the FAA to start working on this. And we are moving through the process, where we’re now able to do a contract to actually start designing the tower." Bend City Councilors this week approved a $1.3 million contract with an architectural firm for that design. "We’re still waiting on potential grants to fund the construction. And we’re also thankful to our federal representatives who have indicated that they would be happy to direct some spending to us for the tower, in particular. Of course, that requires passing a federal budget, which we’re not in control of but we remain hopeful that we’ll get some money that way, as well, and help get this fully funded."

The goal, she says, is to have an air traffic control tower operational at the Bend Municipal Airport in 2025.