Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 12:23 PM - For Immediate Release
Sacramento International Airport Reopens West Runway
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, the West Runway reopened at Sacramento International Airport. The runway had been undergoing rehabilitation since April. The six month rehabilitation project involved removing the existing asphalt runway and replacing it with a new concrete runway.
“We are thrilled to have the west runway operational again,” said Sacramento County Airports Director Cindy Nichol. “The project was executed on time and with its completion it will allow us to continue to serve our customers with maximum efficiency.”
Before the new concrete surface could be installed, 50,000 cubic yards of asphalt was milled off the existing runway, which measures 8,600 feet long and 150 feet wide. In total, 106,000 cubic yards of concrete pavement was used on the new runway, requiring 11,777 truckloads. Additionally, 22,000 linear feet of storm drain pipe was installed, 130,000 linear feet of new electrical cables and 450 new runway lights.
In keeping with the Department of Airports sustainability goals, 100 percent of the pre-existing base rock was put back into the structural section and shoulders of the runway. All of the concrete buried underneath the old runway was processed into base rock and put back into the blast pads (4,500 cubic yards total). Additionally, the asphalt millings were re-used to reinforce the soft subgrade in the blast pads and installed in the shoulders (2,400 cubic yards total).
Beginning today, the daily departures that utilized the West Runway prior to the April closing will resume normal operations on the West Runway. As a result of the West Runway being one mile further from most Natomas residential areas, these daily departures will now pass over those areas about 500 ft. higher. The daily departures which continue to use the East Runway will remain at the same altitudes.
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The Sacramento County Department of Airports is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers more than 155 daily nonstop flights on 12 domestic and international carriers to 36 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Department of Airports is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit sacramento.aero.