MSP Airport to temporarily close runway for final phase of airfield improvement projects

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) will close the south parallel runway at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) on Aug. 18 for the second and final phase of runway safety improvements and other airfield projects.

Construction is focused on Runway 12R-30L, the 10,000-foot, east-west runway located on the south side of Terminal 1. These projects ensure that critical infrastructure maintains the highest level of safety for handling aircraft operations and conforms to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications.

This second phase will occur between Aug. 18 and Sept. 26, as the peak summer travel season slows. Building on work completed this spring, the closure will allow for runway grading, drainage and shoulder improvements as well as the reconstruction of Taxiway D. Most of the work will take place near the eastern end of the runway near Highway 5.

Nearby residents may notice temporary changes to departing or arriving flight patterns at MSP. Once runway construction is fully completed this fall, the FAA will return MSP to its pre-construction operational patterns.

Residents who have any questions or concerns regarding airfield operations, aircraft noise or runway closures can contact the MAC Community Relations Office at 612-726-9411. Additional project information is posted online at www.metroairports.org.