35 AirportImprovement.com October 2026 AIRFIELD SAFETY BOS | ORH performance lifespan of 20 years with proper maintenance. Bed on a Deck With six runways, more than 407,000 annual operations and an airfield surrounded by the waters of Boston Harbor on three sides, BOS could very well be the poster child for EMAS. Runways 15R and 4L each received a bed in 2005 and 2006, respectively; and both were later replaced with newer versions. The current $110 million project, scheduled to be finished before the upcoming Thanksgiving travel surge, is adding a 4,000-block EMAS bed at the 27 end of Runway 9-27. First, however, crews had to build a 650-foot-long deck/pier to accommodate the new safety feature. Engineering firm WSP provided a diverse slate of services for the design/ build project, including environmental compliance, stakeholder coordination and creating the final environmental impact report. It also served as the owner’s representative, managing the construction schedule, budgeting process and quality control for Massport. Amanda DeCesare, senior vice president and national aviation design director for WSP, emphasizes that work in the harbor had to meet comprehensive environmental rules while at the same time, work on land had to be planned and implemented to minimize operational disruptions at the complex, space-constrained airport with 45 commercial carriers. FACTS&FIGURES Project: Installing Engineered Mmaterial Arresting System (EMAS) Beds Location: Boston Logan Int’l Airport Project Scope: Installing EMAS bed at 27 end of Runway 9-27, atop 650-ft.-long deck over Boston Harbor Cost: $110 million Funding: 75% FAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grant & Airport Improvement Program grants; 25% airport capital funds Construction: Began Sept. 2025, expected to end Nov. 2026 Associated Runway Closures: Sept.-Dec. 2025; Aug. 31-Nov. 2026 EMAS Manufacturer & Supplier: Runway Safe Environmental Consultant & Owner’s Rep: WSP General Contractor: McCourt Construction Co. Civil Contractors: J.F. White; Jacobs Environmental & Noise Subconsultant: HMMH Airfield Engineering & Construction Management Subconsultant: Orion Engineers & Associates Key Benefit: Added safety in cases of runway excursions Location: Worcester Regional Airport, in MA 2025 Aircraft Operations: 30,310 Commercial Airlines: 3 Project Scope: Replace EMAS beds at either end of Runway 11-29 Costs: $5.1 million in 2024; $8.18 million in 2025 Funding: 90% by FAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grant & Airport Improvement Program grants Construction: Sept. 2024–Sept. 2025 EMAS Manufacturer & Supplier: Runway Safe General Contractors: The Dow Company (2024); J.H. Lynch & Sons (2025) Airfield Engineering & Construction Management Subconsultants: HNTB Corporation (2024); Atkins Realis (2025) Key Benefit: Added safety in cases of runway excursions AMANDA DeCESARE PHOTO: MCCOURT CONSTRUCTION CO
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