TAXIWAY PROJECT CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT KTUS

The Tucson Airport Authority has announced the start of the End-Around Taxiway Project at Tucson International Airport (TUS). The project is the first in a series of three design-bid-build projects that are part of the airfield safety enhancement program (ASE). The taxiway project will allow aircraft to taxi around rather than cross the active runway.

The taxiway project construction will cost an estimated $25.7 million funded by federal and state grants. Construction will include new taxiways F, G, and D3 along with improvements made to the Arm/De-Arm Pad, Gate B Entrance, and the installation of an aircraft barrier arresting kit system on Runway 3/21. The project is expected to be completed by 2023. The entire ASE program is expected to cost more than $350 million and includes demolition of Runway 11R/29L which will be replaced with a new parallel runway. A new center taxiway and connector taxiways will also be constructed along with updates to airfield geometry and aircraft guidance systems. The ASE program will take six to eight years to complete depending on funding.