Construction for Phase 2 of the Worcester Regional Airport’s rehabilitation project is scheduled to start later this month, the Massachusetts Port Authority announced on Tuesday.
The second phase of construction will center on Runway 11-29, one of two runways at the airport, the port authority said in its statement. The project will improve runway safety by replacing the degraded pavement and runway lights with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
“At 7,000 feet, it is the main runway and the only one available during low visibility operations using the CAT-III Instrument Landing System,” Massport said. “...This project will also eliminate the need for costly maintenance. Also, new runway pavement sensors and temperature probes will be installed for Runway 11-29, allowing more accurate data for pavement conditions.”
The first phase of the project was completed in 2020, and the authority was able to accelerate the timeline in the first phase due to low flight activity during the pandemic. This saved around $300,000 in construction costs, as Massport initially invested $12.5 million into the project.
Starting on Aug. 21, Runway 11-29 is scheduled to be closed to all aircraft arrivals and departures Monday through Saturday between 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. During these times, the degraded pavement on the runway will be replaced section by section.
The runway will be open each day Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Construction is planned to be complete in early November, Massport added.
This news comes after the airport announced that it has welcomed more than 193,000 passengers during fiscal year 2023, numbers which they haven’t seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent Facebook post, Worcester Regional Airport made the announcement that “air travel has fully returned to Worcester with over 193K passengers flying in fiscal year 2023!”
“We thank YOU,” says the post. “From the frequent flyers to the first-time customers — for choosing to #FlyWorcester!”
The last time any rehabilitation work was conducted on the runway was between 2008 and 2019, Massport said.
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