A new route to RDU: Roads will be moved next year to allow for runway expansion

Leaders at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Thursday discussed relocating a handful of roads north of the airport to accommodate a new runway. 

Parts of Lumley Road, Mt. Herman Road and Commerce Boulevard will be moved farther north. RDU officials told WRAL the relocation is needed to meet the FAA-mandated safety zone for the new runway. 

The construction will take place on Lumley Road between Highway 70 and I-540. RDU said crews will begin work mid-2027. The relocation is set to be complete in two years. 

Crews will also have to move utilities along the route, including Raleigh water and sewer mains, Duke Energy power lines and AT&T equipment. 

The contract price to relocate the roads is nearly $50 million. 

During Thursday's meeting, several members of the RDU Airport Authority expressed a desire to have more small businesses involved in the road relocation and runway expansion project, proposing a pause on a vote to approve the contract. However, others said a delay on the project could possibly cost millions of dollars. 

Earlier this week, the City of Raleigh said a spill involving 1.1 million gallons of waste to be released near Brier Creek was the result of a temporary pipe failure during a airport's runway expansion project. Raleigh officials said most of the wastewater was contained, but that contractors mistakenly placed some of the wastewater into a storm drain. Officials say the cleanup could take several days. 

WRAL asked RDU about oversight on construction projects and if the airport is reviewing its contractor procedures, following the incident. 

A spokesperson said the airport is working with the city to investigate and will take all necessary environmental precautions as the construction project moves foward. 

The relocation is a part of RDU's runway replacement project. The construction of the new, 10,600-foot runway began in 2023 and is expected to be complete in 2032. The project is set to cost about $1.1 billion. 

WRAL News has covered RDU's expansion extensively. RDU is working on expanding the Economy 3 parking lot. The plan is to add 7,000 new spaces to the Economy 3 lot, located just off I-40 and Aviation Parkway on National Guard Drive. Those spaces will open in phases throughout the year. 

The Economy 3 lot will get additional upgrades, including a customer amenity building with restrooms, solar panels and EV chargers.  

The Terminal 2 project also started this year, which will expand ticketing to accommodate more travelers and ease congestion at the airport.