Renovation of McCarran International Airport continues with reopening of Runway 7L/25R

McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas has announced the reopening of Runway 7L/25R part of a $67 million project to replace the runway surface.

Phase one of the resurfacing project was completed ahead of schedule in advance of the peak summer travel season. The runway had been closed to air traffic since late October 2014 to replace the runway’s asphalt with more durable concrete. At a length of more than 14,500 feet, Runway 7L/25R is McCarran’s longest runway and typically handles one-third of the airport’s annual traffic.

Rosemary A. Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation commented on the reopening: “While I am pleased to report that Phase I was completed with minimal impact to the airlines and their schedules, I do acknowledge that there was increased aircraft noise in different parts of the valley during this work period. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to not only maintain, but improve our airport. McCarran is one of the most important economic assets in Southern Nevada and an essential part of our hospitality and tourism industry.”

Phase II of the runway renovation project is due to begin in late October 2015 and will focus on resurfacing the western half of the same runway. It will take an estimated six months to remove the remaining asphalt and then pour new concrete, leading to an anticipated project conclusion in late April/early May 2016.

The runway upgrade is funded through both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants and airport-generated funds.