ST. GEORGE — The choppy hum of helicopters and the roar of departing aircraft were heard in the background Monday morning as local and state officials and others gathered on a dusty patch north of the St. George Regional Airport to break ground on a long-awaited air traffic control tower.

The project, which has been years in the making , is expected to improve safety, boost efficiency and provide economic benefits that extend far beyond Washington County. The whole state benefits from this, not just St. George.

– Utah Sen. Don Ipson, R-St. George

Currently, flights at the nation's fastest-growing airports are coordinated from Los Angeles International Airport, a setup local leaders say is becoming increasingly impractical as passenger counts rise and the airport handles a growing mix

See Full Page