McCarran runway to get $67 million makeover

By Pashtana Usufzy

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 | 5:37 p.m.

McCarran International Airport's longest runway is getting a $67 million makeover.

The airport began demolition work this morning on Runway 7L/25R, a more than 14,500-foot asphalt runway that typically handles about one-third of the airport's traffic, according to a media release from McCarran.

The project will replace the asphalt with concrete over two six-month renovation periods, the release said.

Concrete is a more durable surface in the Las Vegas environment and will allow for easier rubber removal, according to the release.

Work on the eastern half of the runway began today and will continue through late April or early May 2015, the release said.

The project is scheduled to start up again in late October 2015 and end in April or early May 2016.

The period between renovations will allow the runway to be used during the summer travel season, the release said.

McCarran has four runways, two that run east-west and two that run north-south, McCarran spokeswoman Christine Crews said.

During winter, the airport shifts many flights to the north-south runways due to weather patterns, Crews said.

Runway 7L/25R runs east-west, meaning it will be less busy through January.

The airport also typically experiences less traffic in the winter months, making this the ideal time to begin work, Crews said.

The effort will be funded by Federal Aviation Administration grants and airport-generated funds, the release said. It is expected to support about 250 full-time jobs.

“We’ve worked very closely with the FAA to develop a plan to allow this work to occur with minimal impact to the airlines and their schedules,” Clark County Director of Aviation Rosemary A. Vassiliadis said in the release. “Under normal circumstances, we do not anticipate travelers will experience flight delays stemming from this work.”