This Sunday, Florida’s Naples Airport (KAPF) will embark on a long-term drainage project that will involve temporary overnight closures of Runway 5/23 and portions of Taxiway A.
The project will replace existing open drainage swales alongside the runway with a piped underground stormwater retention system. According to the airport authority, this improvement will eliminate standing water in the aftermath of storms and provide increased aircraft safety while reducing bird activity near the runway.
At a length of 6,600 feet, Runway 5/23 is KAPF’s primary runway and handles the bulk of takeoffs and landings. During construction, it, along with parts of Taxiway A, will be closed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights until October. During that period, 5,000-foot Runway 14/32 will remain open.
To minimize the impact on customers, the airport authority noted the project was scheduled to encompass the summer months when the pace of aircraft operations is typically lower. The busy season for Southwest Florida is usually October through mid-April.