A 9,010-foot stretch of pavement critical to Snohomish County’s economic health is again open for business.
The main runway at Paine Field reopened Sunday evening. It had been closed since July 1 for planned maintenance.
The work was accomplished within the schedule established by the project contractor, airport engineer Ken Nichols said.
“They were able to execute their original schedule and we opened with the assistance of airfield crews at about 7 o’clock last night,” Nichols said.
Runway 16R/34L is located on the airport’s west side and is long enough to accommodate the world’s largest aircraft. It gets steady use by aerospace companies, including in support of the Boeing Co.’s widebody aircraft program. It’s a key reason nearly half of the state’s aerospace manufacturing jobs are located at or around Paine Field -- an economic boon estimated at more than $20 billion each year.
The maintenance work was necessary to insure the runway remains in top condition and stays in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
During the closure, crews first removed rubber that had built up along the runway over the years, the result of hundreds of aircraft landings daily.
Cracks on the runway surface were sealed and painted markings removed. About 1.2 million-square-feet of runway surface was then coated with fog sealing, a treatment designed to extend the life of the asphalt.
The runway also received new painted markings, some of which were moved and upgraded to meet current FAA regulations.
As the work progressed, airport maintenance crews joined the contractor in fighting a running battle with FOD, an acronym that stands for foreign object debris. FOD poses a risk to aircraft, particularly the spinning turbine blades of jet engines.
The surface of Runway 16R/34L is grooved to improve traction. Workers focused on gathering up and removing grit, small rocks, asphalt chips, bits of rubber and other debris that turned up on the runway and airfield access roads during the project.
There is still some maintenance to be completed, including applying an additional coat of paint to newly treated areas, Nichols said. That will occur within the next 30 days. FAA officials also are recommending an upgrade the runway centerline. That’s a larger project to come later.
Airport staff also are working to improve Taxiway Bravo, which closed in mid June and is not scheduled to reopen until September. The taxiway, nearly a half century old, is being realigned to meet FAA regulations. New concrete was poured last week on its western edge.