Pavement removal began last week on the LNK 18/36 Runway Project and has progressed much faster than expected, thanks to unseasonably warm weather and a lack of snow. Rachel Barth, Director of Air Service Development and Strategic Marketing, tells KLIN News that crews will remove about 45 acres of pavement, with completion expected within two weeks.
“The weather has been incredible for February and has allowed workers to move full speed ahead, uninhibited,” Barth says. “If temperatures were colder or if there was significant snowfall, the work would certainly be impacted.”
Barth explains that equipment using water, such as concrete saws or milling machines, becomes more difficult to operate in freezing temperatures. “Heavy snow would also make maneuvering around the site a challenge,” she adds.
The nearly 13,000-foot-long runway is one of the larger runways in the country. Some of the existing pavement dates back to the 1950s, making the investment critical to safety, reliability, and long-term operations. Barth says that, for now, all aircraft are landing on the crosswind runway, which is long enough to handle commercial flights.
Airport officials say travelers should notice little to no change in day-to-day operations.
(Photos: Lincoln Airport)