b'GENERAL AVIATIONFXE59Scant Room for Delays intersection of Taxiway A1 and Runway 9-27 was also updated The last time Runway 9-27 received major rehabilitation workto meet current FAA standards. was in 2004. That pavement was designed for a 20-year serviceCompleting all of that work in just 10 days was a stretch goal, life and performed as expected. Before the end, however, FXEbut a vital one. FXE is perennially ranked as one of the top five enacted a plan to maintain safe and efficient use of the runway asbusiest general aviation airports in the United States, and its it started to show signs of wear.often the busiest general aviation airport in Florida. The margin It was all covered in the airports master plan that wasfor delays was paper thin. approved in 2018. Management knew the runway needed aWe serve a variety of small to larger business aircraft 1,000-foot extension and a major rehab. After much discussion,operators that expect a continuous level of service and access, leadership decided to prioritize the rehab and pursue theJames notes. We strive to ensure that the airport is readily extension later (likely late 2026 or early 2027). Plans for theavailable with minimal impacts to daily operations.rehabilitation project were reviewed by the FAA, and the airport sought funding from FAA and the Florida Department ofLaying Out All the CardsTransportation. The project went out to bid in early 2024, andJames and ODonnell both knew the stakes quite well. In an quotes were received over that summer. By October, the airportinteresting coincidence, ODonnell was a new hire at Kimley-Horn issued notice of receipt to the selected contractor, Generalin 2000, when James started working for the airport; and the Asphalt; and work started in February 2025. previous repaving of Runway 9-27 was one of ODonnells first big Kimley-Horn Vice President Tom ODonnellairport projects. led the project, which included resurfacingI was a young engineer brought into the project for all of Runway 9-27 (6,002 feet long, 100 feetconstruction observation, so I was able to see what lessons were wide), the part of crosswind Runway 13-31learned in that period of time, ODonnell recalls. I was able to within 9-27s safety area, and portions ofimplement those lessons for this go-around; this project was one dozen taxiways. The geometry of thenearly the same scope of work. TOM ODONNELLAirportImprovement.comSeptember 2025'