DANIA BEACH (CBS4) – As Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport prepares for a major runway expansion, the county’s Aviation Department has begun helping those who live near the airport prepare for the increase in noise.

On Monday contractors began installing special sound insulation on 48 homes under the department’s Voluntary Residential Sound Insulation Pilot Program which will continue through the summer. All of the homes are located in Dania Beach and are located south and west of the airport.

“This is a challenging issue for the residents who live near the airport as well as for the airport and the county,” said airport spokesman Greg Meyer.

“It’s something that has to be done,” said Kyle Albis who lives in a duplex in the Maliluca Gardens neighborhood.

Back in March, the selected homes were tested to find weak “noise paths” into the residences; floor plans were drawn up, windows and doors were measured, and other openings, such as air conditioner vents, were tested.

Alvis’ duplex will be getting new windows, new doors, new insulation and a new air conditioning unit.

“The fact is that if this is what has to be done, we’ll take the first step and see what happens in the future,” said Albis.

The cost of the upgrade to each home, which will run between $60-thousand and $75-thousand dollars, will be paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration and the county.

“The county is trying to make these people whole so they can at least accept the noise from the commercial aircraft that will be landing and taking off from the south runway,” said Meyer.

About 4,500 residents will be affected by the new runway that is expected to be operational by 2014.