Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 2:22 PM - For Immediate Release
Sacramento International Airport West Runway Closure
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On April 2, the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) will initiate a project to rehabilitate the West Runway (16R/34L) that will continue until late October. During this time, the East Runway (16L/34R) will be the only operational runway at SMF.
The rehabilitation will involve removing the existing asphalt runway and replacing it with a new concrete runway.
“Runway rehabilitation is a common necessity for airports,” says Airports Director Cindy Nichol, “The new concrete runway will require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan than the current asphalt runway.”
In preparation for managing a one runway operation effectively, airport staff consulted with other single runway airports to learn best practices for airfield maintenance that minimizes the impact to commercial flight operations.
Due to the need for routine maintenance on the East Runway, the airport will implement twice monthly closures of the East Runway beginning at the initiation of the West Runway project. These closures will occur on the first and third Sunday of each month from 12:30am to 5:30am. This was identified as the day and time with the least impact to operations. The first closure will take place April 7.
“We have been working closely with our airline partners in planning for managing a one runway operation,” continued Nichol. “We chose a five hour window with the least operational impact.”
During the closures, arrivals will not be allowed after 12:30am and departures not until 5:30am. Aircraft that arrive after 12:30am during one of the twice monthly closures will be diverted to another airport. Aircraft that do not depart before 12:30am during a closure will not be able to leave until the runway reopens at 5:30am.
The East Runway is one mile closer to most residential areas, because of this, Natomas communities may experience an increase in aircraft noise throughout the duration of the project.
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.