Nov. 20, 2019
Following a four-month closure for complete runway reconstruction at Oregon’s Hillsboro Airport (HIO), local and regional officials and business leaders recently gathered to officially reopen the airport’s largest runway – 31L/13R – to business aircraft operators.
Hillsboro Airport, the second busiest airport in Oregon, was first constructed in the 1940s. While the main runway has been repaired and expanded over time, years of stress from aircraft landings and taking-offs made reconstruction necessary. Kodiak Pacific Construction, the prime contractor leading the runway reconstruction project, began work on June 3.
“In an impressive accomplishment, a closure that was originally scheduled for completion over three summers was completed in just four months over this summer. No other runways were closed during the reconstruction,” according to the Port of Portland, which operates of the airport.
“The result of this project’s investment in vital infrastructure for the local economy, as well as the wonderful example of cooperation between airport and tenants, shows that Hillsboro Airport appreciates and values the benefits of business aviation,” said Phil Derner, NBAA’s Western regional representative.
Hillsboro Airport provides operations for several local companies, including Nike and Intel. The Port of Portland relocated several business jets to the Portland International Airport during the construction project, including the relocation of Intel’s air shuttle operation, which flies about 10,000 Intel employees each month. The port also implemented a tenant mitigation program, which provided rent reduction and assistance with temporary relocation-related expenses during the closure.
The nearly $21 million runway reconstruction project was funded in part by a $12.2 million grant from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The Port of Portland contributed the remaining funds for the project.