INDIANAPOLIS--It’s enough concrete to build a two-lane highway all the way from Indianapolis to Terre Haute. But, some of the old concrete will be recycled for the new runway being built at the Indianapolis International Airport. And, the constructions means 2,700 jobs.
Part of the reason a new runway project is needed is because there are so many heavy plans traveling through the Indy airport. It’s not just passenger jets, but all of the FedEx cargo planes.
“We can’t do that without a runway that is properly designed and constructed and maintained to support that staggering weight,” said Elliot Black, who represented the Federal Aviation Administration during Wednesday’s announcement and preview at the airport.
The construction will cost about $190 million and has already begun, with the first of three phases to be completed in October. The next two phases will be complete in the next two years. The airport will be operational and will have enough runway space to be normal.
“This is public asset management in its finest form,” said IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez. “This project will pay dividends to the community for decades to come and will play a crucial role in Indiana’s economic growth over time.”
Rodriguez said the project is one of the largest of its kind.
“To put it into perspective, the project will use enough concrete to replace the smallest pyramid in Giza, which is equivalent to building a two-lane highway from Indianapolis to Terre Haute,” said Jarod Klaas, IAA senior director of planning and development.
Part of the concrete used for the project will be a new kind that can absorb carbon dioxide, which can help cut down on emissions.
