HIGH POINT — Residents of neighborhoods in north High Point who have endured more aircraft noise since the onset of summer should get some relief in the fall.

People who live in Oak Hollow Estates, some of whom have tracked noisy flights over their homes to the minute, received a response to their concerns this week from the administrators of Piedmont Triad International Airport. The noise has intensified in neighborhoods like ones in north High Point as flight paths have been rerouted to accommodate a runway temporarily closed for renovations.

“The Piedmont Triad Airport Authority has investigated the increase in aircraft traffic over (the) Oak Hollow neighborhood. We believe this increase results from the current closure of the airport's main runway (Runway 5R/23L) for necessary renovation work,” airport leaders said in a statement.

The runway renovations should be finished in early October, according to the Airport Authority.

Residents of neighborhoods are experiencing more aircraft noise because of flight pattern changes to adjust to the closed runway.

“When Runway 5R/23L is available for normal service, most southbound aircraft departing from the southwest end of this runway make an initial turn to the east to follow the approximate route of Highway 68,” airport leaders say.

Aircraft normally departing on the temporarily closed runway have instead taken off from a parallel runway about one mile farther to the west.

“A comparison of flight tracks before and after the runway closure indicates that the current increase in aircraft traffic over Oak Hollow has resulted from the shift to the parallel runway,” according to the Airport Authority. “The authority understands the concerns of the Oak Hollow neighborhood and other neighborhoods around the airport about the shift in traffic that has resulted from the runway closure. We appreciate your patience and look forward to putting Runway 5R/23L back in service in the near future.”

Residents of Oak Hollow Estates have experienced an increase in flights over their neighborhoods since the runway project began at the outset of the summer. The intrusion of aircraft noise from early in the morning through the evening has become a popular topic on the Oak Hollow Estates Facebook page.

Some residents have kept a track record of noisy flights over their homes to the exact hour and minute. Residents have encouraged their neighbors to contact the airport to express their dissatisfaction.

The runway renovations are being done in two stages, according to an updated construction report provided by the airport to The High Point Enterprise. The second phase of the project is scheduled to begin in mid-September and conclude in early October.

[email protected] | 336-888-3528 | @HPEpaul

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