BIA runway project to enter final phase

BANGOR – Bangor International Airport will begin the final phase of the airport’s runway reconstruction project at the end of April, according to an announcement made by airport officials Tuesday.

In order to complete the project, the runway will be closed to takeoffs and landings from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for seven consecutive weekends April 26 to June 8.

“Our closure schedule will allow flights to arrive and depart from Bangor every day, yet provides sufficient time to accomplish this critical project in a reasonable time frame with limited impact on our busy summer season,” BIA Assistant Director Anthony Caruso said Tuesday.

The $17 million runway project is a partnership between the Air National Guard and the city of Bangor. Phases I and II of the project were completed on time and within the budget in 2002, BIA Director Rebecca Hupp said.

The project is funded by a $10 million grant from the National Guard Bureau, with 90 percent of the remaining funding coming from the Federal Airport Improvement program, 5 percent from state funding and 5 percent from local airport revenue.