Story ID: 
Improvement Project Closes KC Runways
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The rehab project at Kansas City International is expected to continue through the end of the year.
Word Count: 182
Continuing runway rehabilitation work at Kansas City International Airport will close two of its three runways, leaving only 10,801-foot Runway 1L/19R in operation until the fall. In early July, as part of a $20 million FAA improvement grant, the intersection between 9,500-foot-long Runways 9-27 and 1R-19L was demolished in the continuing replacement of 1R-19L and more than 900 embedded light fixtures.

According to the Kansas City Airport System, which operates the facility, the two-decade-old, 150-foot-wide Runway 1R-19L is being excavated down to 17 inches and will be replaced with granite-rock based cement. The new material is expected to last for more than 30 years. Thirty-one acres of pavement is being ripped up, some of which will be used to ring a reservoir along the airport’s entry road to deter nesting waterfowl.

“Renovations to KCI’s runway infrastructure will ensure that we can continue to meet demand with a safe, secure and efficient airfield,” said director of aviation Pat Klein. Runway 9-27 is expected to reopen by October, while 1R-19L has a December completion date.