The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded two grants to Rochester International Airport’s Runway Safety Project 2/20 totaling $22,438,732. This critical investment in our airport’s infrastructure allows RST to continue Phase IV and develop design plans earlier than anticipated for Phase V through VII.
About Project 2/20
Runway Safety Project 2/20 is a multi-year, multi-phase $79.2 million runway improvement project made possible through federal, state, and local partnerships. Reconstructing the runway is crucial to maintaining uninterrupted access to world-class healthcare. Air ambulance operations, cargo carriers transporting medical supplies, and patient travelers rely on RST to remain open 24/7.
Phase I focused on replacing a 3,800-foot intersection of the runway with 40-inch-thick pavement including drainage to prolong its life. Phase II reconstructed 4,200 feet of adjacent taxiway and reconfigured connector taxiways further from the runway and upgraded edge lighting to meet FAA standards. An additional investment of $6.2 million by the City of Rochester and Rochester International Airport reserves added the final phase to install a CAT II ILS improving the ability for aircraft to take off and land in poor visibility conditions.
Phase IV entailed the acquisition of approximately 25 acres of land before rerouting a nearby roadway and pipeline. Crews are moving 1.5 million cubic yards of material to reconstruct the Runway 3 safety area and extend it an additional 1,647 feet south. This extension is needed before advancing to the part of the project which will reconstruct the intersection between runways 2/20 and 13/31.
Check out our Runway Improvements to view progress photos.
Find details of all FAA grants awarded here.
About Rochester International Airport (RST)
Rochester, Minnesota, home of Mayo Clinic, hosts three million visitors a year who travel to the city for care. Ranked No. 1 in the world by Newsweek, the hospital serves as an economic engine for our southeast Minnesota community. It drives demand in all areas of business at Rochester International Airport. From more than a million landed tons of cargo to serving as a global entry point for thousands of international aircraft, Rochester International Airport is a critical gateway. American and Delta currently offer daily service on regional and mainline aircraft between Minneapolis and Chicago. Read more about Rochester’s plans for growth and Mayo Clinic Rochester’s Bold. Forward. Unbound initiative here.
