Mayor Emanuel Breaks Ground on New Runway at O’Hare International Airport

11-Aug-2016 Mayor Rahm Emanuel today marked the next step in modernizing O'Hare International Airport with the groundbreaking of O'Hare's newest runway, 9C/27C. The runway is one part of a $1.3 billion infrastructure plan announced earlier this year by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines and American Airlines. Today's groundbreaking kicks off the next step implementing this infrastructure plan, which will enhance the passenger experience at O'Hare by reducing delays and increasing the airport's capacity. With 9C/27C, a modern, six parallel runway configuration at O'Hare will be complete. The 11,245-foot-long, 200-foot-wide runway will be the second largest at O'Hare, and its construction will create jobs and drive economic development in Chicago. City officials are ensuring local workforce participation is a priority. Towards this end, Walsh Construction - the company awarded the bid for the initial phase of the project - will host three job fairs throughout the city to ensure all residents of Chicago have a chance to learn about work opportunities. The Runway 9C/27C project alone is slated to support more than 4,900 jobs. "O'Hare is the economic engine of Chicago - one of the main reasons why companies move to Chicago, bringing jobs for residents and economic growth to neighborhoods throughout the city," said Mayor Emanuel. "With this runway, we are taking the next step in strengthening O'Hare's role as the economic driver of the city for decades to come. The runway will bring benefits to travelers and residents, and ensures that O'Hare is not just the busiest airport in the world, but also the best airport in the world."