The City of Georgetown dedicated its new airport tower Tuesday.

City officials and pilots were all smiles as they dedicated the newest addition to the Georgetown Municipal Airport.

The tower cost just over $2 million and was paid for by a state grant, the city's airport fund and donations.

Planes are now tracked by air traffic controllers' eyes and by radio. Eventually air traffic control radar from Killeen will be fed into the tower.

The tower is currently open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eventually, it will operate seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Georgetown Municipal Airport opened 62 years ago. Over the past 10 years, there have been some close calls like one in May 2004 when two planes trying to land at the same time crashed into each other. Both pilots survived.

Those who fly through the airport say they believe the new tower will help protect them and lives will be saved.