The only runway serving one of Arizona’s busiest tourist destinations will soon shut down for nearly a month. Here’s what Thursday's public meeting about the project revealed.
This summer, Grand Canyon National Park Airport will shut down its runway for 28 days starting July 14, halting nearly all air traffic as part of a $13 million rehabilitation project.
The only exception: helicopter tours, which will continue flying. All other aircraft activity — including air tours and skydiving operations — will come to a temporary stop.
The three companies affected have been instructed to relocate to Valle Airport, a regional facility 22 miles to the south, according to an Arizona Department of Transportation spokesperson.
Project leaders say the closure is necessary to repave the runway, redesign taxiways and upgrade airfield markings and signage — all to boost safety and efficiency.
“The need for asphalt curing … it had to be done during the warmer weather as well as in timing with getting the grant funding,” said Sarah Richey-Ferrara, a spokesperson for the project.
The project manager said the pre-construction preparations of the runway are scheduled to begin June 15, which will involve nightly closures five days a week. The nightly closures are expected to last until July 14.
But pre-construction could be delayed if the team doesn’t receive its grants from the Federal Aviation Administration by June 15, the project manager said.
The runway’s rehabilitation is 95% funded by the FAA, using grants from the Airport Improvement Program and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Officials are urging pilots and tenants to subscribe to the project’s email updates for the latest schedule information.
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