Runway Reconstruction Project Underway at Eastern Iowa Airport

Largest Single-Season Project in its History

A runway reconstruction project is underway at The Eastern Iowa Airport for the largest single-season construction undertaking in the airport's 63-year history.

The 8,600-foot-long runway closed this week for the $21.8 million project. It is expected to reopen in September. 

The work will employ about 200 construction workers, something that Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said was important.  "We need these jobs now," he said.

Mr. Corbett also praised airport leaders for employing about 15 local businesses in the project.

Airport Finance Director Don Swanson, who is acting airport director, said this is the last project in a 25-year upgrade and renovation effort at the airport that will have cost upwards of $150 million in total.

The runway reconstruction will allow larger and heavier airplanes, mostly cargo planes, to land and take off from the airport. This will be the first runway renovation since the 1940s. The runway was extended in 1991. The new construction should last for at least 20 years, officials said.

A nearby taxiway has been converted into a temporary runway during the construction.