Completed in June 2009, the Ketchikan Airport Project required a 2000-foot extension to the south end of the existing runway – to accommodate safety areas for both ends of the runway. It also required an unobstructed Runway Safety Area extending out 250 feet from both sides of the runway centerline.
However, the runway extension conflicted with Lewis Reef Road and Government Creek – a salmon bearing stream. Re-routing Government Creek 2000 feet to the south required 400,000 cubic yards of excavation and the construction of a new fish habitat and estuary.
To maintain the existing road, teams constructed a 700-foot long, 17 ft X 37 ft multi-plate tunnel through the new runway embankment – with pavement, interior lighting and a fire-resistant system. At project completion, a total of 750,000 cubic yards of excavation was combined with 750,000 cubic yards of shot rock borrow to construct the runway extension embankment. The runway surface required 35,000 tons of pavement and relocating all navigation aides.
