A Closer Look at Rochester International Airport’s Runway 3/21 Improvements
If you’ve looked out the terminal windows at Rochester International Airport lately, you’ve probably noticed plenty of activity: excavators, dump trucks, construction crews, and a changing landscape.
What you’re seeing is work to extend Runway 3/21—RST’s secondary runway—and make it more capable, bringing it closer to the level of the airport’s primary runway and providing greater reliability for travelers for years to come.
The Runway 3/21 project is a long-term investment in the airport’s infrastructure that will unfold over several years. “This has been an exciting project. It’s the biggest project RST has ever undertaken,” said Colleen Bosold, Planner & Community Engagement Coordinator for RST’s engineering and planning firm, Mead & Hunt. “It’s very unique and complex. It’s great to be watching it come to fruition after all these years of planning, design and construction.”
What Passengers Can See Right Now
Much of the work visible from the terminal is happening at the north end of Runway 3/21, where crews are excavating and regrading, shifting the Runway 3 threshold south, rerouting a service road, relocating navigational aids, and making changes to taxiways. Some taxiways are being removed or relocated to meet updated Federal Aviation Administration design standards.
Meanwhile, work continues further down the runway on the south end, where it is being extended 1,647 feet. When complete, the runway will be 8,354 feet long.
Although the work is happening at opposite ends, it is all part of the same goal: giving RST a second runway capable of serving more of the airport’s aircraft and operations.
Why a Second Runway Matters
Today, Runway 3/21 is used primarily as a secondary option, including when wind conditions make it preferable for smaller aircraft. The improvements will give it greater length and better weather-related systems, allowing it to accommodate commercial airlines, cargo operators, medical transport and other airport users more reliably.
That becomes especially important in 2027, when RST plans to reconstruct the area where its two runways intersect, requiring the primary runway to temporarily close. Later, in the 2030s, the primary runway will need to be reconstructed, making the Runway 3 upgrades even more important.
At some airports, major runway work can mean temporarily shutting down airport operations. RST has spent years planning so that doesn’t have to happen here.
Keeping RST operating is particularly important because the airport serves not only leisure and business travelers, but also Mayo Clinic patients, medical teams, air medical transportation, and time-sensitive cargo. Having two highly capable runways provides the redundancy RST needs to keep Rochester connected.
“We’re very excited to be so close to the end of this important project,” Bosold said. “This multiyear project will provide the airport with uninterrupted service so it can continue serving the users of Rochester and Mayo Clinic. It will be a positive for the airport, the community and travelers for years to come.”
The airport’s construction extends beyond what’s in view from the main terminal windows. Read more about the $15M general aviation ramp project and United Therapeutics’ corporate hangar buildout.
