Key West
International Airport will start a 5-month reconstruction project Tuesday
night, Dec. 5, 2017, on its only runway (9-27).
The runway
is more than 15 years old and has experienced about 900,000 take offs and
landings during this time.
All work on
the $10 million project will occur at night when the airport is closed. The
airport will be open during the day to accommodate all scheduled commercial airlines
and general aviation.
Airport
neighbors may notice an increase in noise and truck traffic overnight during
the construction period.
“With only
one runway at Key West, this is a very challenging project,” said Donald
DeGraw, Director of Airports for Monroe County. “The timely completion of this
project is critical to the airport being able to provide the community
with continued safe and reliable air carrier service.”
The
project’s work includes:
- Milling and overlay of the entire
existing runway surface with new pavement.
- Widening the shoulders from 10 to 20
feet on both sides of the runway.
- Upgrading the runway lighting to
LED, with a 60% savings in energy usage.
- Adding 270 feet of takeoff distance
available for Runway 9 only.
- Improving drainage in the grass
safety areas abutting the runway.
The project
is being constructed by Miami-based General Asphalt, with Charley Toppino &
Sons working on the rehabilitation as a local sub-contractor.
It is
funded 100% from Federal Aviation Administration, State Aviation and Airport
Passenger Facilities Charge funding sources.