Mayor Emanuel breaks ground on new runway (9C/27C) at Chicago O’Hare International Airport
US Mayor Rahm Emanuel marked (11-Aug-2016) the next step in modernising Chicago O'Hare International Airport with the groundbreaking of O'Hare's newest runway, 9C/27C. The runway is one part of a USD1.3 billion infrastructure plan which will enhance the passenger experience at O'Hare by reducing delays and increasing the airport's capacity. With 9C/27C, the six parallel runway configuration at O'Hare will be complete. The 11,245ft long, 200ft wide runway will be the second largest at the airport. Mayor Emanuel said the new runway will also help balance noise exposure among communities east and west of the airport. The city plans to ensure that sound insulation of all eligible homes and schools will commence and be completed before the runway opens. Construction of the runway will be split into phases to allow construction of two new hangars and other airfield projects. Construction will begin on the east portion of the runway, followed by the center and west portions of the runway, which will each be bid as individual projects. With construction of the runway and other aspects of the plan underway, the CDA and its airline partners will continue to focus on moving forward other parts of Mayor Emanuel's larger modernization strategy for the airport, called O'Hare 21. As previously announced by CAPA, the city and its airline partners are working together to design and develop a capital investment programme at O'Hare that expands T5, redevelops T2, creates space for new gates, and supports new jobs and economic opportunities. Other elements of O'Hare 21 include three hotel development projects, which will more than double the current hotel capacity at the airport; the addition of five new American Airlines gates at O'Hare by 2018, representing the first major gate expansion since 1993. These improvements are driven by the Mayor's vision that the airport should continue to serve as the economic engine for the city of Chicago long into the future. [more - original PR]