El Paso International Airport to receive $26.8 million for runway safety upgrades
EL PASO, TX (KVIA) — El Paso International Airport (EPIA) is set to undergo major safety improvements with a $26.8 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This project addresses a specific concern at EPIA that was identified by the FAA Runway Safety Action Team in 2016 as a potential hotspot for runway incursions. The “five-node intersection,” where five taxiways converge, poses a risk for pilot confusion and runway incidents.
The project will reconstruct the intersection, realign the taxiways, and separate commercial and general aviation traffic. The upgrades will also include clearer signage and improved lighting to enhance safety for pilots and passengers.
Construction is set to begin in January 2025 and is expected to take a little over a year to complete (410 days). Despite the extensive work, airport officials say there will be no impact on flights or passengers.
“We're doing this upfront coordination and phasing to ensure aircraft knows where to land and that there are no delays,” Victoria Ruiz, CIP administrator at EPIA, told ABC-7. “We've been working closely with the FAA for years to identify project limits and align construction with available funding.”
The project will be funded through a reimbursement system, with the city paying for the work upfront and receiving monthly reimbursements from the FAA.
The airport will request the approval from City Council to award the construction contract to the lowest responsive bidder at today’s meeting, allowing plans to move forward.
The improvements come as the FAA has launched a national push to reduce incidents at busy airports across the U.S. While there have been no reported close calls at the intersection, the project is solely to take precaution and to prevent potential runway incursions.
