Seattle-Tacoma International's third runway waits for sunshine

July 23, 2007

A third runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is nearly complete.

Crews and machinery are waiting until the rainy weather stops to pour the concrete on the 1.6-mile runway, which will be used for arrivals in bad weather and decrease air-travel delays.

The runway has cost $1.2 billion, with $100 million of the cost resulting from lawsuits regarding environmental impacts and noise insulation for nearby schools. Airline fees, federal grants and ticket fees paid for the runway.

The runway is expected to be completed in early fall, with the first planes touching down in November 2008.