Renovation Work Will Close Main Runway at PTI this Summer

Renovation work will close the main runway at Piedmont Triad International Airport for the summer months, temporarily shifting noise patterns around the airport, according to PTI officials. The work is scheduled to begin in early May.

Air traffic that would have used the 10,000-foot main runway nearest the airport terminal building will be shifted to the airport’s 9,000-foot parallel runway while the work is being done, said Kevin Baker, the airport’s executive director.

Airport passengers will not notice any difference in service, Baker said. Regularly scheduled air service will not be affected. But some airport neighbors will notice the change.

“Some people will experience more noise this summer,” Baker said. “The airport has expedited the construction to limit the closure period, but our options are limited.”

The renovation project is required by the Federal Aviation Administration and includes reconstruction of the runway pavement, renovation of the airfield lighting system and work on airfield drainage structures.

Approximately 4,450 feet of the runway will be renovated. A prior phase of the runway renovation project was completed last summer on the northeast segment of the runway, Baker said. The work has been limited each year to the summer months to avoid winter delays.

Baker emphasized that the change in noise patterns is temporary. The change in air traffic will only occur while the main runway is closed for renovation. The runway will reopen in the fall. At that time, normal operations should resume.

“We have given the contractor four months to get the bulk of the work done,” Baker said. The work will then take about four weeks to complete. During this final stage, the runway can be reopened most nights.

“We hope our neighbors understand that the renovation work must be done. We have taken steps to limit any disruption.”

The Airport has posted information about the closure at flyfrompti.com on the Noise Information Page in the Operations section of the website.