PLYMOUTH, N.C. (AP) -- A new federal program is helping an airport in eastern North Carolina make significant upgrades. 

• The N.C. Department of Transportation says the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $7 million for a project at Plymouth Municipal Airport
• The money will fund all of the construction of a full-length parallel taxiway
• The money is part of a $205 million federal award to the FAA's Airport Improvement Program 

A Monday release by the N.C. Department of Transportation says the Federal Aviation Administration is providing $7 million for a project at Plymouth Municipal Airport in Washington County. It says the money will fund all of the construction of a full-length parallel taxiway. 

The money is part of a $205 million federal award to the FAA's Airport Improvement Program to be used primarily to benefit smaller airports in rural areas.

Plymouth Municipal Airport averages 42 operations per day but that number can approach 600 during certain seasons with agricultural flights. Aircraft must back-taxi along the runway to take off, meaning that other aircraft are unable to land. A full parallel taxiway eliminates that conflict.