MESA, Ariz. — The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority today broke ground and began construction on a 3,610’ by 75-feet-wide taxiway extension that will improve air traffic flow, expand capacity and reduce delays for passengers.
Gateway, the nation’s 39th busiest airport in 2014 with over 228,000 landings and takeoffs, is committed to making its airport more efficient, Executive Director Jane Morris said. Gateway’s board of directors, made up of elected officials from
across the Valley, has invested in infrastructure improvements that will enable the airport to handle additional aircraft more efficiently. The efficiency of an airport is increased when planes don’t have to wait in line to takeoff or land, which means less
fuel and less engine time, Morris said.
When completed, planes taking off and landing at Gateway will be able to enter and exit the runway faster. The $5.4 million project to construct the new taxiway will improve access to the eastern runway. The taxiway is slated for completion at the end of
April, 2016.
The project will be wholly funded by Gateway’s Passenger Facility Charges - routine fees that airports charge passengers to fund infrastructure upgrades and other improvement projects.
“This critical project is evidence of our commitment to ensuring Gateway is building for the future, and showcases the importance of how we put Passenger Facility Charges to work for the benefit of our clients and passengers,” said Gilbert Mayor John Lewis,
vice chair of the Gateway Airport Authority board of directors. “Simply put, the construction of this taxiway will mean less idling time for aircraft, whether on the ground or in the air, which means both airlines and customers win.”
The taxiway will run in a northwest/southeast direction on the eastern side of the airport, parallel to the Eastern runway and will measure 5,810’ long by 75-feet-wide of pavement. The project will require 15,700 cubic yards of concrete, which needs to be
16 inches deep in order to handle the weight of an aircraft. The construction of the taxiway will create 60 jobs in the Valley during peak construction.
Gateway is a vital hub for driving commerce in Arizona – both by connecting the local, national and global economy and in bringing in legions of visitors every year to enjoy the state. That adds up to an annual economic impact of $1.3 billion, which supports
10,400 jobs in the Phoenix metropolitan region.
About Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority
The Airport Authority is owned and operated by the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority, which consists of Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Gila River Indian Community, Phoenix, and Apache Junction. Gateway Airport offers nonstop passenger service to 38 cities
via Allegiant and service to San Diego through Elite Airways. Gateway has 1,000 acres of undeveloped land available for future job growth in the East Valley. For more information, visit
www.phxmesagateway.org.
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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority Media Contact:
Brian Sexton
Phone: 480-988-7618
Email: bsexton@phxmesagateway.org