Indy Airport Leads Tour of New Runway Project
Indy Airport Hosts Behind-the-Scenes Look at Massive Runway Construction
INDIANAPOLIS (August 10, 2022) – The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) today hosted a private tour of the first phase of its $190 million construction project underway at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to enhance capacity for Runway 5R-23L and the initial construction and electrical phase of Taxiway D.
This construction investment will be instrumental for both passenger and cargo aircraft and the future of aviation operations at the Indy airport.
IAA officials discussed the project at length on the airfield construction site with elected officials, state and city leaders and local news media, explaining the project will create more than 2,700 jobs and has spent more than $14.2 million to date with more than 15 diverse businesses. The IAA anticipates more diverse business participation as the project proceeds in subsequent years.
“This is public asset management in its finest form,” said IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez who led the IAA to secure more than $100 million for the project, including the largest Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant in the airport’s history – and the largest in the country received in last year’s funding. “This project will pay dividends to the community for decades to come and will play a crucial role in Indiana’s economic growth over time.”
The first phase of the construction is expected to be completed in October 2022, with the two additional phases of construction in 2023 and 2024 during April through October of each year.
“To put it into perspective, the project will use enough concrete to replace the smallest pyramid in Giza, which is equivalent to building a two-lane highway from Indianapolis to Terre Haute,” said Jarod Klaas, IAA senior director of planning and development.
The existing concrete will be recycled into the new runway pavement section, and a new concrete that captures carbon dioxide, preventing it from contributing to global warming, will also be used.
“IND will be the first airport in the United States to use this carbon-capturing concrete technology and is another concrete example of our commitment to long-term sustainability,’ Klaas said.
Additional sustainable improvements will include LED lighting and an extra inch of concrete to extend the life of the concrete runway, from a 20-year expected life cycle to a 40-year life cycle, providing an additional two decades of resiliency. The construction process has also had substantial environmental benefits, such as construction waste management, water reuse, material reuse, and reduced emissions and fuel by using onsite materials.
The IAA is pursuing ENVISION certification for this project to ensure the delivery of infrastructure that tackles climate change, addresses public health needs, creates jobs, and spurs economic recovery.
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About the Indianapolis Airport Authority
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport-Gordon Graham Field, Indianapolis Regional Airport and Metropolitan Airport. IND generates a $5.4 billion total annual economic impact for Central Indiana – without relying on state or local taxes to fund operations. More than 10,000 people work at the airport each day, and 22,600 area jobs have a connection to the airport. In 2021, IND served more than 7.1 million business and leisure travelers. IND is consistently ranked, year after year, as the best airport in North America and the nation, based on ease of use, passenger amenities, customer service, local retail offerings and public art. The airport is home of the world’s second largest FedEx operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility. For more information, visit IND.com.