This summer, a very old section of runway at Metro Airport will be paved to life, thanks to $15 million in federal stimulus funds.
The airport will rebuild one of its two crosswind runways, which is used primarily during strong westerly wind conditions. This runway was closed last fall because of bad conditions that weren't getting any better without a full replacement.
"There is pavement out there that is more than 40 years old," says Michael Conway, director of public relations for Metro Airport.
The $34.6 million project will replace the pavement and a couple of feet of gravel and asphalt bedding underneath the 8,700-foot-long, 200-foot-wide runway. New drainage and lighting systems will also be installed. The project won't interrupt service or impact air-traffic patterns.
It is expected to put 225 construction workers to work and will be completed this summer. Originally it was set to take two construction seasons and use fewer workers, but the stimulus dollars helped fast-track the project in more ways than one.
"If the object of the stimulus funds is to put people to work, this project is it," Conway says. "We have the shovels leaning against the wall."
The new runway will give air traffic one more option for navigating Metro Airport. It will also help snow removal crews work more efficiently and help reduce maintenance costs. The runway is expected to last 20 years.
Source: Michael Conway, director of public relations for Metro Airport
Writer: Jon Zemke
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.