Kenai airport main runway closed May 14 through September; pilots use temporary runway

Kenai Municipal Airport's main runway closed Thursday night for a three-month rehabilitation project. All operations shifted to temporary Runway 03-21.

The closure of Runway 02L/20R began at 11 p.m. May 14. The runway will remain closed through the end of September, weather permitting. Crews will mill and remove the existing asphalt before rebuilding the surface.

Pilots face restrictions for the first few days of the closure. The tower cannot issue landing or departure clearances until the FAA signs authorization documents. Pilots may use the temporary runway as an open surface at their own risk during that period.

Once the first document is signed, the tower can issue clearances under visual flight rules only. A second document will authorize instrument approaches using special RNAV procedures developed for the temporary runway. Tower officials said the restrictions should last only a few days.

Milling and demolition work began Friday morning. Crews will remove the existing asphalt over the next three weeks. Construction will then rebuild the runway from the base up. The project is scheduled to finish by the end of September, weather permitting.