An aerial view looking northeast shows Sea-Tac's three runways. The middle runway will be closed July and August, switching more traffic to the third and first runways.
For Sea-Tac International Airport's western neighbors, it will be deja vu all over again this summer.
The center runway will be closed in July and August, switching more of the jet traffic onto the third runway.
Last summer, the airport's first runway was closed for pavement replacement at a cost of $85 million. The runway was built in 1944 and the runway had never been replaced. The closure meant more jets took off and landed using the third runway.
Beginning in July, deteriorating concrete panels on the second runway will replaced. The project is estimated to cost $5.65 million.
Port of Seattle officials originally planned to replace the second runway in 2012, but airlines asked for the cheaper repair job instead, according to Port spokesman Perry Cooper. The airlines will pay the repair costs.
The repairs are expected to delay a complete replacement for another six years. The second runway was built in 1969 with a 20-year life expectancy.
About 400 concrete panels have been replaced since 1993, but another 150 must be replaced to prevent airplane damage, according to Port staffers.
The Federal Aviation Administration rates the second runway as in "fair" condition.
For more information on the runway project, see item 6b at http://www.portseattle.org/downloads/about/commission/RM_20100209_Agend…
