Runway Construction

MSP Airport has over 32 miles of runways and taxiways. It is critical to maintain airfield infrastructure for the safety of aircraft operations.

At times, airport construction and maintenance impact typical runway use. These activities periodically require temporary closures of runways at MSP to ensure the safety of construction crews and aircraft. Additionally, construction activities can impact how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assigns aircraft to open runways.

What construction activities are occurring?

During the spring and late summer of 2025, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) will close the south parallel runway at MSP. Runway 12R-30L, to complete needed runway safety area grading and other airfield projects. This work ensures that critical airport infrastructure maintains the highest level of safety for handling aircraft operations and conforms to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications.

The 2025 work will restore runway safety area grading of Runway 12R-30L, drainage, and shoulder improvements as well as the reconstruction of Taxiway D near Taxiway W. The runway safety area is the zone adjacent to a runway designed to minimize risks in case of an aircraft's unintended departure from the runway. This area must be free of debris, properly graded, and capable of supporting aircraft, snow removal equipment, and emergency response vehicles.

When will the runways be closed?

The first phase begins, Monday, April 14 and continues through May 23. The second phase will occur between August 18 and September 26. Additionally, Runway 4-22 may be closed during these periods during nighttime hours. The dual phasing of the project means the runway will be fully open to all aircraft activity for the majority of the peak summer travel season.

Which runways will be open during construction?

During the 2025 construction period, airport runway operations will be temporarily adjusted to accommodate air traffic volumes with the least amount of operational disruption. Air Traffic Control (ATC) will continue to consider the factors of runway availability, wind and operational efficiency and utilize the priority Runway Use System (RUS) to direct aircraft over more noise-compatible, less-populated residential areas, when feasible, excluding runways closed for construction. The FAA has also stated they will be implementing traffic management initiatives to control the flow of aircraft in to and out of MSP during the closures as a way to provide the most efficient and safe use of the airport.

What does this mean for surrounding communities?

With aircraft directed to use open runways, residents may notice a temporary change or increase in activity over their neighborhood, depending on the flight patterns and runway configurations chosen by the FAA during the upcoming construction. When the runway construction is complete, and the runways are reopened, the FAA will return MSP to its pre-construction operational patterns.

MAC staff will continue to share construction updates and what the community can expect during these temporary changes in operations. These will be shared through a variety of means, including airport newsletters, website updates, MSP Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) meetings and NOC quarterly listening sessions.

Runway use information and flight activity are available on the MAC FlightTracker. Information about runway closures at MSP is available here. Anyone with questions regarding airfield or aircraft noise and/or runway closures due to construction may call the Community Relations Office at 612-726-9411.