Charlotte/Douglas to begin Runway Construction

[bluestarcitx]

Charlotte/Douglas to begin runway construction

Charlotte Business Journal - 11:13 AM EDT Thursday

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport expects to start construction on its long-delayed third parallel runway in February, pending approval of an initial grading contract this year, officials told the Airport Advisory Commission Thursday.

The 9,000-foot runway is slated for completion in January 2010. It is expected to cost from $80 million to $90 million, with about two-thirds of the money coming from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The local portion of the cost will be paid for with airport revenue bonds, backed by a $3 passenger facility fee that started in the past year.

The airport had hoped to start the runway as early as 2002, but the downturn in traffic caused by the 2001 terrorist attacks and US Airways Group Inc.'s financial problems prompted a delay. Arizona-based US Airways (NYSE:LCC) operates its largest hub at Charlotte/Douglas, the nation's 17th busiest airport.

Initial work will involve moving thousands of tons of gravel from one part of the airport to build up the runway, Aviation Director Jerry Orr says. Paving is expected to start in September 2008.

The new runway is expected to cut more than $30 million in annual airline-related costs due to delays and congestion.

 

[LCC_#1]

Great!! Hearing people refer to Charlotte these days as Charladelphia makes my stomach turn. :unsure:

 

[cltvff]

Bye bye 18R overlook....

 

[Art at ISP]

Where exactly is the runway going to be? I would assume adjacent to the current 18R-36L???

 

[BoeingBoy]

Yes, Art - to the west, presumably making it the new 18R/36L with the current one becoming 18C/36C. There's a map on page 4 of this PDF file.

Jim

 

[Art at ISP]

Jim,

Thanks as always--long taxi though..4300 is 3/4 of a mile!

 

[BoeingBoy]

True, Art, but it allows three simultaneous ILS approaches if needed. My guess is that they'll normally use the new 18R/36L for arrivals and the old one (new 18C/36C??) for departures (along with 36R or 23/18L for both ), though.

Jim

 

[zethya]

Great!! Hearing people refer to Charlotte these days as Charladelphia makes my stomach turn. :unsure:

Actually I like "HillbillyPhilly" better.

 

[LCC_#1]

Actually I like "HillbillyPhilly" better.

Good One!!

 

[flyJOE]

Bye bye 18R overlook....

That indeed is the sad part about the expansion. You get so close to the action at the overlook. I love taking my little ones there.

Looking at the map in the PDF file, there's still some chance that the overlook can still exist, but it would have to be as a standalone entrance off of the relocated Wallace Neal. I'm not optimistic though. It would also cutoff the flt 1016 memorial if the overlook is closed too.

 

[chevyman]

Yes, Art - to the west, presumably making it the new 18R/36L with the current one becoming 18C/36C. There's a map on page 4 of this PDF file.

Jim

I can almost guarranty someone will try to land on I-485 in low vis condtions !

 

[U 737 PILOT]

They are going to need the fourth runway for all the :censored: MESA CRJ 900's that will be replacing the 737's !!!

**Edited By Moderator**

 

[etops1]

They are going to need the fourth runway for all the "BLEEP" MESA CRJ 900's that will be replacing the 737's !!!

ouch!!
it looks like they can even built a new terminal in between the new 18R/36/L and the old. 18R/36L.

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

Actually I like "HillbillyPhilly" better.

As long as "HillbillyPhilly" is in charge of the purse strings of so much of the United States, I'm fine with being called a redneck. Financial services are the most widely recognized sector of Charlotte's economy. Of the 82,676 employees in finance and insurance, 46,361 are employed in commercial banking and 17,377 are employed by insurance carriers. Charlotte will cross over the $2 trillion mark in assets following the closing of the acquisition of Golden West Financial by Charlotte-based Wachovia Corp later this year. Charlotte remains number 2 in assets following New York City-headquartered institutions with $3.1 trillion in total assets.

New York $3.1 trillion
Charlotte $1.9 trillion
San Francisco $559 billion
Seattle $357.9 billion
Cleveland $249.8 billion
Chicago $225.6 billion
Minneapolis $209.9 billion
Atlanta $183.3 billion
Birmingham, Ala. $180.5 billion
Pittsburgh $133.1 billion

 

[BoeingBoy]

Actually, the terminal plan calls for a new international terminal north of concourse A (where the rental car lots are now), extending concourse E to the north, what presumably is a new ticket counter/baggage claim facility about where the north side of the present short-term parking garage is, and adding a "leg" to concourse B extending west (making it look like a reversed "L").

Jim