Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) recently completed the runway rehabilitation project on Runway 18R/36L at Tulsa International Airport. The $13.2 million project rehabilitated the runway pavement and brought the runway safety areas (RSA) into compliance with current FAA design standards. Construction began in June 2021 and was completed in November 2021.
“We are excited to have Runway 18R/36L renovated and back open for our users to utilize,” said Alexis Higgins, CEO of TAIT. “The rehabilitation not only provided much needed restoration to the runway, but will also improve safety and lower operational, maintenance, and electrical costs to the airport.”
The project included a full rehabilitation of the runway, removing the top layer of asphalt and replacing it with new material. Runway rehabilitation is essential to the safe operation of the airport due to weathering and pavement cracking over time. The RSA improvements were prompted by an FAA review of the predominant aircraft type using the runway. According to FAA design criteria, the RSA at each end must be 1,000 feet. In order to meet this requirement, a displaced threshold was added to the north end of the runway. This object-free area will protect aircraft in the event of accidental overruns. New runway LED lighting and signage was also installed, which will lower electricity costs for lighting the runway as well as lessen the need for routine maintenance.
The airport still plans to add an EMAS (engineered material arresting system) to the south end of the runway in 2023 as the final step of the RSA improvements.
