# FAA Awards $148.8M Sacramento Tower Contract

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Walsh Federal a **$148.8 million design-build contract** for a replacement air traffic control tower at Sacramento International Airport. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2027 and continue through February 2030. The FAA will fund construction, operation, and maintenance, so the project will not affect the airport’s enterprise fund; the cost and schedule exceed Sacramento County’s 2023 estimates. The award is part of a nationwide effort to modernize aging air traffic control infrastructure.

- The multi-year project provides a concrete benchmark for firms pursuing aviation facility design-build work and signals continued federal investment in air traffic infrastructure.
- Companies serving the airport construction market can use the contract’s scope, scale, and projected schedule to inform planning for comparable projects; this award itself is not an open solicitation.
- Procurement teams and contractors should account for the project’s expected 2027–2030 construction period when assessing delivery capacity and potential participation in related work.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Transportation, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 30, 2026

### Government Entities
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Sacramento County Department of Airports

### Vendors
- Walsh Federal (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> We have been ready for this investment for many years, and we are excited to see the project move from planning toward construction.
> — Harry Barrett Jr., Assistant Director of Airports

### Sources
- [After years of planning, Sacramento airport gets $148.8M control tower contract](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/years-planning-sacramento-airport-gets-140000995.html) - Yahoo