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.

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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.

FMI: www.vhb.com/pvd/eis/