No Impact On Operations or Services

Cincinnati Municipal Airport, commonly known as Lunken Field (KLUK) in Cincinnati, Ohio, has decommissioned Runway 3L-21R, its shortest strip.

Discussions about a closure plan had been ongoing for several years and last year the decision was made to permanently close it. Two primary reasons were cited: the pavement is in poor condition with cracks and draining along the centerline causing puddling, which had already caused several closures of the runway for safety. To bring it up to current standards the runway would have to be completely rebuilt at a cost of about $15 million.

There was some interest among owner/pilots on the field to do that but the second reason is that the FAA said because the runway is not required for operations it is no longer eligible for grant support. Meaning the cost of reconstruction would be borne 100% locally, which sealed the deal for airport management. 

In addition, the FAA had expressed concern that the runway was causing hotspots with potential for runway incursions.

Airport Manager Jaime Edrosa said, "There will not be any impacts on the services that are available at the airport." Part of the runway will be converted to a taxilane, other parts will be removed.

On the positive side, some developers have shown interest in the airport, and some of the runway ends which were protection areas and unusable are now available for aeronautical development. Manager Edrosa is a pilot himself and has said he is committed to working with pilots, owners, and the aviation community to include the needs of general and light sport aviation in future planning.

FMI: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/lunken-airport/