Tue, Sep 27, 2011
Main Runway To Be Extended, Crosswind Runway To See Safety
Improvements
The FAA has approved an AIP grant for Theodore Francis Green
State Airport (KPVD) in Providence, RI. The airport's master plan
calls for the lengthening of its main runway, and safety
improvements to be made to the crosswind runway.
FAA Image
Rhode Island Airport Commission president Kevin Dillon told the
Providence Journal that he expects the $165 million
project to break ground in the spring of 2013. "This is a great day
for the airport," he told the paper.
Airport officials have pursued the improvements for more than a
decade. When completed, the longer main runway will allow aircraft
to depart with heavier loads of fuel, passengers, or cargo. It also
makes it so that airlines will not have to re-route passengers to
other airports because of weather conditions.
The paper reports that the main runway will be extended by 1,500
feet to 8,700 feet. It will require a road re-location, and ten
homes will be taken by eminent domain to make way for the
extension. Collapsible concrete overrun areas will be installed at
either end of the shorter crosswind runway. That will also require
a road to be relocated, and the taking of ten business properties
near the airport.
According to the FAA approval document, voluntary land
acquisition for the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) and noise
mitigation is anticipated to begin as early as 2012. The following
Project elements are anticipated to be completed by the end of
2015:
- Hangar No. 1 will be demolished between 2013 and 2014 to remove
an airspace obstruction.
- Main Avenue will be shifted to the south between 2013 and 2014
to accommodate the extension at the Runway 5 End.
- Between 2013 and 2014, Airport Road will be partially relocated
to the north, at the intersection of Post Road, to accommodate the
Runway 16-34 safety enhancements.
- Taxiway C will be relocated in 2014 to meet current FAA design
standards.
- Other projects associated with the Runway 16-34 safety areas
will be constructed between 2013 and 2015, including taxiways,
navigational aids, lighting, the Runway 16-34 Perimeter Road,
drainage, utilities, and the relocation of Delivery Drive.
- Between 2014 and 2015, Runway 5-23 will be extended south
approximately 1,530 feet for a total of 8,700 feet and an
engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) will be used on the
Runway 5 End to minimize the relocation of Main Avenue.
- Between 2014 and 2015, Runway 16-34 will be shifted north
approximately 100 feet to accommodate the enhanced RSAs. An EMAS
will be used on the Runway 16 and 34 Ends to minimize impacts to
businesses on the Runway 16 End and impacts to natural resources on
the Runway 34 End.
- Other projects related to the Runway 5-23 extension and safety
areas will be constructed in 2015, including taxiways, aprons,
navigational aids, lighting, the Runway 5-23 Perimeter Road,
drainage, and utilities.
- Land acquisition will be completed as required for construction
of these Project elements.
While the FAA has approved the federal portion of the funding,
the local match has not yet been finalized. The airport plans a
bond issue to cover its 25 percent of the cost of the project.
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