San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is to close its shortest runway, 1 Left or 1L, for eight weeks in spring 2023 to repave the runway surface.
The runway closure will begin on Monday, March 27, 2023, and is expected to reopen no later than Thursday, May 25, 2023.
During this period, SFO will operate all arrivals and departures using two primary runways, 28 Left and 28 Right. This is a common configuration, often used during clear windy days. The runway adjacent to the construction area, 1 Right, will remain open but will not be used for take-offs and landings. Instead, it will serve as an additional taxiway to reduce surface congestion.
SFO expects this closure to cause few delays during clear conditions and delays of less than an hour during foggy mornings. There will also be slightly longer taxi times for departing aircraft to reach the open runways.
With input from airlines at SFO, the project team selected this period for the closure to avoid the busy summer and year-end holiday travel seasons. This timeframe was also chosen for the low probability of precipitation, as dry weather is necessary for asphalt installation.
The closure is being conducted to repave the surface layer, make improvements to adjacent taxiways, upgrade lighting, and paint new striping and markings.
On October 3, 2022, Golden Gate Constructors, a joint venture between DeSilva Gates Construction and Graniterock, was awarded the contract for this work. The total project cost is expected to be $51m, with more than half – $27.9m – will be funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Image: San Francisco International Airport
