The paving and rehabilitation of the Cyril E. King Airport runway is set to begin on Tuesday, April 28.
The paving phase of the resurfacing of the airport’s 7,000-foot runway involves milling the top three inches of the existing asphalt pavement and then applying a new three-inch layer of asphalt surface. Additionally, the project will incorporate electrical upgrades, including new LED runway and navigational lighting.
The $27 million project is being executed with Island Roads Corporation and is primarily funded by a federal grant from the FAA and Passenger Facility Charges. VIPA aims to significantly reduce the likelihood of unexpected pavement failures, improve runway reliability, and ensure the safety and continuity of aviation services for travelers.
The last major rehabilitation of the CEKA runway took place in 2012. VIPA has been planning this current project in collaboration with airport users, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other stakeholders since 2018.
While VIPA does not expect any significant disruptions to air travel in St. Thomas, the agency apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the nightly closures as it works to complete these crucial improvements to the runway infrastructure. During the paving portion of the project, VIPA will provide progress updates to the public.
