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Jul. 22--RALEIGH -- Raleigh-Durham International Airport will begin replacing some 2,000 runway lights with energy-efficient lights this week, thanks to about $8 million in federal and state funds.

The money came in three installments. The first two installments came in the spring -- $2.5 million from the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division of Aviation and $4.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The last installment, announced today, was again from the federal stimulus package, to the tune of $1.38 million.

In total, RDU will have $8.38 million to replace 2,000 runway and taxiway lights with energy efficient LED, or light emitting diode, fixtures made by Siemens. The project will also include an upgrade of the electrical equipment lighting vault, which controls and powers the airfield lights.

The airport will also expand its weather and pavement monitoring system, which provides real-time information on runway and taxiway conditions.

RDU spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin said the project primarily focuses on the runway adjacent to the new Terminal 2, but some lights on runways for Terminal 1 will also be replaced.

The project is expected to wrap up by May.

"This is a project that has been in the works because of the energy and maintenance cost savings," she said.