The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) announced an updated schedule of weekend closures to rehabilitate Runway 28L. The revised schedule consolidates the remaining work, eliminating two weekends from the schedule and completing all weekend shutdowns by June 5th. Under the revised plan, Runway 28L will be closed over Memorial Day weekend, and construction crews will combine phases to complete the project before summer travel volumes increase in mid-June.
“Our goal is to minimize inconvenience to our customers, and this revised schedule reduces the number of weekends in which delays and cancellations could occur,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “By consolidating this schedule, we complete this very important project before peak summer travel season. I appreciate the continued patience and understanding of our travelers.”
Remaining weekend closures are as follows:
- Friday, May 12th at 11:59pm PDT through Sunday, May 14th at 12:00noon PDT
- Friday, May 19th at 11:00pm PDT through Monday, May 22nd at 8:00am PDT
- Friday, May 26th at 6:00pm PDT through Monday, May 29th at 12:00noon PDT
- Friday, June 2nd at 6:00pm PDT through Monday, June 5th at 12:00noon PDT
Delays and cancellations are likely during the remaining weekend closures, with delays expected to average between 60-120 minutes during these periods. Travelers are advised to contact their airline for up-to-date information on the status of their flight.
Airlines operate the largest number of flights during the summer travel season, and the revised schedule ensures the runway closures are completed before these increases occur. United Airlines announced service from SFO to seven new cities on June 8th, along with increased frequency to eight existing destinations, and larger aircraft serving ten cities from SFO. In addition, Alaska Airlines, Delta, and Southwest also plan to add new service from SFO in the month of June.
The original plan called for a total of nine weekend closures, three of which have already been accomplished. The airport was forced to cancel two planned weekend closures due to weather conditions, which would have caused further delays or cancellations. The revised schedule consolidates the work to seven weekend closures, leaving only 4 remaining weekend closures.
Runway repaving is necessary every 8-12 years, based on flight activity. Runway 28L was last repaved in 2008. The rehabilitation project provides a new asphalt surface, equivalent to paving four lanes of interstate highway for a length of 10 miles. The project also upgrades runway centerline lights with light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures, which last longer and use less energy. Construction teams are also making improvements to taxiways, resulting in improved operational efficiency.
