RDU breaks ground on new primary runway
The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority on Wednesday will break ground on a two-mile runway that will replace the airport’s primary runway.
RDU received approval in August from the Federal Aviation Administration to replace the runway.
“RDU’s new primary runway will be the most important two miles of pavement in the Triangle,” said Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority President and CEO Michael Landguth in a news release. “It will provide greater economic opportunities for our region by ensuring RDU maintains its transatlantic connections and allowing long-haul aircraft to move more passengers and cargo.”
The existing 10,000-foot runway was built in the 1980s. It needs to be replaced after nearly four decades of use, the airport authority said.
Since 2019, RDU has maintained the nearly 40-year-old runway by replacing slabs of concrete as they show signs of wear and tear.
RDU posted a time lapse video on YouTube to capture nearly 20 hours of preservation work on the runway.
The replacement runway will be built approximately 537 feet west of the current location to allow the current runway to remain in operation during construction.
The relocated runway will also make room for the future addition of more gates at Terminal 2.
The FAA previously determined the runway can be built at 10,639 feet, which would provide more distance for takeoff and landing. The runway replacement is expected to cost more than $500 million and be completed by 2028.
