Cape Cod Airport To Begin $25 Million Construction Project In 2023

HYANNIS, MA — A $25 million construction upgrade project is set to get underway soon at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport, officials announced recently.

The project will aim to give needed repairs to a runway at the airport and replace the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), a system which, according to the FAA "uses crushable material placed at the end of a runway to stop an aircraft that overruns the runway."

Airport officials say construction upgrades will improve safety and usability at the airport for both passengers and employees.

Funding for the project is coming largely from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation at a mark of 95 percent. The airport will fund the remaining five percent.

“We had tremendous support from our partners, and our team worked very hard to design this project in an innovative and efficient manner to allow for as minimal of an impact as possible to the community and to our airport customers,” stated Airport Manager, Katie Servis.

Servis noted that work should be completed within one construction season, beginning in March 2023 and wrapping up in October 2023.

Runway Project

Airport employees have been expected to maintain Runway 06-24 for the last 30 years. That means sealing cracks and providing other needed maintenance.

Simply put by airport officials, "the runway is now in need of an upgrade."

"The FAA and MassDOT have slated this runway for a full reconstruction which is expected to extend the design life of the pavement for another 20-30 years and improve safety and operational flows," officials said.

Reconstruction will include in-pavement and edge lighting, the regrading of turf safety areas and other improvements to navigational aids and power sources, officials said.

The EMAS, located at the approach end of Runway 06-24 was constructed in 2003 and "has eclipsed its lifespan," officials said.

It will be completely replaced during this construction project.

Air traffic will be shifted over to the north and south runway which will increase flight activity over Barnstable and Yarmouth during the construction period, officials said. The Airport Noise Monitoring Office will also be responding to any inquiries during the length of this project.

Officials don't expect the project to have any impact on customers flying in or out of the airport.