Runway project started at Philadelphia International

An expansion project has begun at Philadelphia International Airport. It will will extend the hub's secondary runway but will cause some disruption to car traffic in the area, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Route 291 has been diverted to allow for the building work to begin on Runway 17-35, a 5,500-foot landing strip currently used primarily by small jets and turboprops.

The project will add 1,040 feet to the length of the tarmac, meaning it can be used by larger planes, including two of the most popular aircraft to use Philadelphia airport – the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.

The Industrial Highway, the route connecting the airport to nearby I-95, is being rerouted as well, although the construction work will not affect any traffic routes on the interstate itself.

Construction work is expected to be completed by next year. The extension will go some way towards easing air traffic landing on Philadelphia's other two east-to-west runways, which at present are the only two that can accommodate larger passenger planes.

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Comments

[nightowl]

I really hope this works but what is really needed is the total redesign of the airfield and air space at PHL. The city does not want to change the airfield too much, but I think that the city should redesign the airfield to include I95. The interstate could be rerouted under the airport giving it more room to expand the runways giving the airport four parallel runways. With enough room to land two or more planes at a time.