26
RUNWAYS  
May | June 2026      AirportImprovement.com
YVR
Last fall, Runway 8L-26R at 
Vancouver International Airport 
(YVR) in British Columbia returned 
to full service after an ambitious six-month, 
$133 million modernization program. 
Work to overlay the concrete with asphalt, 
upgrade associated electrical and lighting 
and improve drainage was performed 
during the runway’s existing nightly closures 
so as not to impact operations at Canada’s 
second-busiest airport.  
Referred to by 
airport personnel as 
the North Runway, 
the 9,941-foot strip 
is a workhorse that 
handles nearly half 
of YVR’s operations. 
Originally constructed 
in 1996, it was 
due for refurbishment in the normal 
cycle of maintenance, says Andrew 
Grams, director of program delivery and 
optimization for the airport. 
In planning and 
designing the 
program, “We focused 
on the highest and 
best runway condition 
that we could have 
here at YVR,” says 
Beth Henschel, 
director of asset 
management and former director of airside 
operations during the program lifecycle. 
Henschel’s team was accountable for 
delivering the operation on a day-to-day 
basis, supporting the operation throughout 
the project and then accepting the runway 
back into use upon conclusion. 
“We had a runway that served us really 
well for 30 years, performing at a high level 
of service in nearly all weather conditions,” 
Henschel reflects. 
Following a thorough assessment of 
the runway’s condition in 2024, airport 
leadership determined that its structural 
Vancouver Int’l Completes North Runway 
Rehab During Overnight Closures BY JODI RICHARDS 
ANDREW GRAMS
BETH HENSCHEL
FACTS&FIGURES 
Project: Runway Modernization
Location: Vancouver Int’l Airport, in BC
Cost: $133 million 
Funding: Vancouver Airport Authority 
Runway Length: 9,941 ft.
Project Scope: Asphalt overlay of entire north runway 
& connecting taxiways; upgrade of drainage systems, 
electrical infrastructure & lighting equipment 
Asphalt Placed: More than 150,000 tons 
Key Benefits: Extended runway life; enhanced 
operational resilience
Site Prep & Electrical Upgrades: Oct. 
2024-March 2025
Paving, Painting, Lighting & Drainage 
Upgrades: April-Sept. 2025
Commissioning, Vegetation Reinstated 
& Runway Returned to Full Service: Oct. 2025 
General Contractor: Kiewit
Construction: Lafarge Canada (now Amrize)
Lighting & Electrical Work: Tristar Electric, with 
subcontractor DeltaTec
LED Airfield Light Supplier: TKH Airport Solutions

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