Story ID: 019touchingbasesAINApr13EditedByAY_NM
DuPage Airport Completes Runway Extension
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: 
Word Count: 157
Officials at Chicago-area DuPage Airport announced the completion of a months-long project to extend the length of its secondary runway by 1,343 feet, to 6,443 feet, allowing it to accommodate the largest corporate jets and bizliners such as the BBJ and ACJ. The $3.5 million project was funded entirely by the airport authority. 
  
“This construction project allows us to use our extended secondary runway as a backup when maintenance is being performed on the primary runway,” said airport executive director David Bird. “The airport can now handle a larger volume of aircraft, allowing us to increase our customer base and offer continually improved operations.” 
  
DuPage has the second longest runway in the Chicago area after O’Hare International, and the newly lengthened secondary runway will give the airport increased operational flexibility and added safety, according to Bird. A $9 million project to widen DuPage’s primary runway to 150 feet is scheduled to begin next year.