Lee’s Summit Airport Runway Improvements Project Wins Transportation Project of the Year Award

The Lee’s Summit Airport Runway Improvements project was announced as a Public Works Transportation Project of the Year by the Kansas City Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) at a luncheon on May 23, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park. The $18 million project won in the transportation category for projects more than $5 million but less than $25 million. The entire project team, including the City of Lee’s Summit Public Works Department, engineering design consultant Crawford Murphy & Tilly Inc., and contractor Emery Sapp & Sons, was recognized for the award.

The APWA Project of the Year awards recognize excellence in the management and administration of public works projects. Project of the Year awards are given in four divisions: projects less than $5 million; projects of $5 million, but less than $25 million; projects of $25 million to $75 million; and projects more than $75 million. There are also five categories: structures; transportation; environment; historical restoration/preservation; and disaster or emergency construction/repair.

The Lee’s Summit Airport Runway Improvements project included major earthwork and concrete paving to complete an extension of the north/south runway 18-36 to 5,501 feet x 100 feet, and extension of the crosswind runway 11-29 from 3,800 feet to 4,000 feet. The construction featured a 21-day closure of both runways for intersection construction. The runway improvements allow heavier corporate jets to take-off and land at the airport, and are expected to boost economic development and redevelopment in Lee’s Summit by providing another option for transportation and accessibility.

The Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport master plan, first approved in 1996 and then updated in 2000, paved the way for the runway improvements by calling for the north/south runway length of at least 5,500 feet. The earthwork project to accommodate the longer runway began in fall 2015, and was completed in summer 2016; the paving portion of the project began in fall 2016 and was completed in fall 2017. The City received approximately $17 million in federal and state grants for the earthwork and paving.