Dec 19, 2018
Massachusetts’ Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY) will close its main runway from mid-January – May 2019 for a full-depth reconstruction of the 28-year-old Runway 6/24, said Geoff Freeman, assistant airport manager.
The ILS also will be out of service, but the 3,300 foot Runway 15/33, with RNAV approaches to each end, will remain open during the reconstruction. The airport will fully close for three days in April to reconstruct the intersection of the two runways.
The $10.27 million project’s exact dates depend on the weather, said Freeman. Given the airport’s construction window, work will begin no later than Feb. 4. Averaging 35,000 operations a year, with the majority being general aviation, which relies heavily on runway 6/24 for access to the island, the airport’s season runs from Memorial Day to Columbus Day and peaks round July 4. Three scheduled airlines regularly serve the island during the peak season as well.
Compounding the challenge of New England’s unpredictable weather are the logistics of being an island. “All of the needed materials must be barged to the island and stockpiled,” said Freeman. “The asphalt plant closes for the winter because temperature” affects its application and curing, which is critical for a runway.
Before the asphalt plant reopens in late March or April, crews “must remove the existing runway pavement, bring in all the materials, and recable the lighting system,” he added. The reconstruction will make no changes to the dimensions of the 5,504-by-100-foot runway or its weight bearing capacity, which serves aircraft up to an Airbus A320.
The plan is to have the runway back in service before the season starts, Freeman said. Once the asphalt has fully cured, Martha’s Vineyard Airport will close the runway at night from June 15 to June 29 for grooving. When determined, the project’s precise dates will be published in Notices to Airmen.
For further information please contact Geoff Freeman at 508-693-7022 or GFreeman@mvyairport.com.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.