Taking advantage of reduced activity to speed up needed project

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is accelerating a runway rehabilitation and safety improvement project at Boston Logan International Airport in order to take advantage of this period of historically low flight activity nationwide. In collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airlines that serve Boston, Massport will begin work on Runway 9-27 later this month with an accelerated 73-day timeline and full runway closure.

Runway 9-27 is one of six runways at Logan Airport and the fourth longest at 7,001 feet. Prior to the travel impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Runway 9-27 project was slated to start in August 2020, near the end of the peak summer travel season. With reduced air traffic, moving up the project will reduce community overflights and minimize impacts to the traveling public.

Beginning May 26^th, Runway 9-27 will be closed to all aircraft arrivals and departures. Consistent with FAA requirements, the project will improve runway safety by enhancing the lighting, the surface condition, and drainage system. Work will be done in several phases to include the following:

New electrical infrastructure, with new energy efficient LED lighting;
Drainage improvements to prevent ponding;
New reconfiguration of the taxiway at the Runway 27 end. Taxiway D1 is being realigned to conform with current FAA standards; and
New pavement on existing footprint.

Preliminary work on a new runway centerline lighting will begin on May 11^th, which will require some overnight closures. The runway is expected to reopen in early August.

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