One of Denver International Airport’s main runways is getting a $46.5 million face-lift.
Runway 17L-35R, one of DIA’s four north-to-south runways, will be closed through mid-September so crews can perform maintenance and install a new system that will help the airport better monitor surface conditions during winter storms. Work began Monday.
“DIA is now 20 years old, and there is an increased requirement for maintenance of the facility,” Ken Greene, DIA’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “Our robust pavement management program allows us to efficiently track the age and condition of more than 150,000 individual concrete panels on the airfield, and to make proactive maintenance decisions that will help to ensure the safe operation of more than a half-million flights a year.”
The total project budget is $46.5 million. The Denver City Council on March 23 approved a $35.3 million contract with Broomfield-based Flatiron Construction for the work. That money will come from airline fees, according to the release.
The FAA will also chip in about $20 million through its Airport Improvement Program, offering the airport some wiggle room in case anything runs over the pr0jected budget of $46.5 million.
“The (Flatiron) bid amount came in at $35.3 million, so that’s what was approved,” airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said in an e-mail. “But we also include in the budget construction management (inspection and testing) and contingency costs for unforeseen conditions.”
DIA’s six runways — there also are two that run east-to-west — are not paved like typical road surfaces.
Instead, each is a patchwork of 625-square-foot concrete panels equipped with various sensors and other technology.
For this project, about 2,180 panels and several lighting components along the 12,000-foot runway will be replaced.
Additionally, a new system that allows the airport to more effectively monitor winter storm conditions and manage the use of runway surface de-icing chemicals will be installed.
This new system is part of DIA’s overall technology network that includes an aircraft de-icing queue management system and the Federal Aviation Administration NextGen system that uses satellite technology — as opposed to ground-to-sky technology — to develop more efficient flight and landing plans.
The airport’s six runways and other airfield surfaces are overseen by the Airport Infrastructure Management division, which conducts a deep inspection of each individual concrete slab every three years.
Additionally, there are daily and yearly inspections by both airport staff and the FAA.
The last runway work to take place at DIA was the replacement of 400 slabs on one of the airport’s two east-west runways. That project ran from July to mid-August 2014.
The airport expects the runway 17L-35R project to conclude in mid-September.
“We worked closely with the FAA to develop our work calendar,” Montgomery said. “We don’t anticipate there will be any significant impacts if you’re flying this summer. We don’t think travelers will see any difference.”
Laura Keeney: 303-954-1337, lkeeney@denverpost.com or twitter.com/LauraKeeney
