Scottsdale Airport to close for about 45 days to rehabilitate its runway
Jun 15, 2021, 4:05 AM
The Scottsdale Airport is hosting its first movie night on Saturday. Attendees will be able to watch a screening of the blockbuster film “Top Gun: Maverick.” (City of Scottsdale Photo)
(City of Scottsdale Photo)
PHOENIX – After receiving more than $10 million in federal funding, Scottsdale Airport will be closing for about 45 days to rehabilitate its only runway.
Crews will start work July 6, when all airport operations will be put on hold except for helicopters using the apron area, the city said in a press release last week.
The closure is expected to last until mid-September.
The runway hasn’t undergone major rehabilitation since it was built in 1967. It was extended to its current length of 8,249 feet in 1982 and widened to 100 feet in 2000.
The $12 million project won’t change the size of the runway, which is located near Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and the Loop 101 Pima Freeway.
“It’s essential for the airport to provide a well maintained, safe and secure infrastructure to accommodate our aircraft operators,” Gary P. Mascaro, Scottsdale Airport aviation director, said in the release.
“We want to retain our competitive advantages as an essential hub for general aviation and corporate activity.”
An $11 million Federal Aviation Administration grant is covering most of the project’s price tag. The Arizona Department of Transportation and the city will pay the remainder.
Scottsdale Airport opened in 1942 and was acquired by the city in 1966.
It’s one of the busiest single-runway facilities in the nation, according to the runway project website, with more than 195,800 operations in 2020.
