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AirportImprovement.com      September 2026
RUNWAYS 
RDD 
runway from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20 last year so contractors could 
work around-the-clock to revive the aging pavement with a fresh 
asphalt overlay.  
“It was a really good collective effort with everyone inside 
and outside of the airport world,” says Assistant Airports 
Manager Ken Griggs, whose responsibilities includes RDD and 
Benton Field (O85). “It was a very big, needed project. Like any 
infrastructure, there is an expiration date.”
With commercial airline traffic grounded during the runway 
project, the city of Redding also took the opportunity to repave 
RDD’s rental car, public and employee parking lots. It cost $1.4 
million for resurfacing, removal of curb islands and installation of 
initial charging stations for electric vehicles—expenses not in the 
initial project that were covered with a loan. 
Early Challenges
The airport has two commercial carriers that provide 
direct flights to four key markets—Alaska Airlines with 
service to Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), and 
United Airlines to San Francisco International (SFO), Los 
Angeles International (LAX) and Denver International 
(DEN). In 2024, enplanements totaled about 88,700, up 
1.2% from the previous year; and 2025 enplanements 
topped 89,000 despite the month off for runway repairs. 
If further pavement degradation had forced RDD 
to close to commercial traffic, there would have been 
significant inconvenience to the region.
Fortunately, the airport prevented that scenario—but not 
without challenges. The initial plan was to close the runway for 
full rehabilitation in 2024, but an expected FAA grant fell through, 
postponing the schedule for about one year.   
Airport officials and lead consultant Mead & Hunt worked to 
keep their planning and construction partners on board and 
update travelers about the new timeline for runway work. They 
also notified airline partners well in advance to allow them time to 
suspend ticket sales.
“Let’s assume we’re going to start in mid-to-late September. 
They want to know in June for their scheduling purposes at the 
very latest,” says Solsvig. 
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