b'30 AVLRUNWAYSThe issue not only caused delays, but also cost the airport millions. Bleiweis notes that the original project estimate was $65 million, and the FAA committed to fund $50 million. Early issues such as regional labor shortages and the need to split work to synchronize with available funding increased the initial estimate to $75 million. Then, after encountering difficulties in the last phase, the final cost came in close to $115 million. The airport used its own cash reserves to cover most of the increases, with additional funds coming from passenger facility charges and a portion of AVLs first CARES Act grant. Final ApproachWhen the project was finally completed in 2021, the airport had raised the south end of the runway 7 feet to solve its line-of-sight issue, and the new taxiway and runway now meet FAA standards for separating center lines to ensure safety margins between airplanes on the taxiway and those taking off and landing on the runway. The new runway is expected to last 40 to 50 years. During the delay-plagued project, AVL had a record Crossing guards helped traffic continue safely during the project.year when it served 1.6 million passengers in 2019Consulting. Design. Implementation. Thats just skimming the service.Visit rsandh.com/aviation to learn how we can meet all of your airfield needs.July | August 2022AirportImprovement.com'