Boeing Field Prepares for Months-Long Runway Closure

Beginning Monday, Runway 14L/32R, the smaller of the facility's parallel runways and known as the secondary runway, will be shut down for what has been described by airport officials as a “major rehabilitation process."

The project at the airport that has about 175,000 annual operations has been in the works since 2021, according to Barbara Ramey, deputy communications manager for King County's department of executive services.

“The pavement on Runway 14L/32R at King County International Airport-Boeing Field is at the end of its useful life,” Ramey said. "Without rehabilitation, it will continue to deteriorate until it is unsafe for aircraft operations. The project is intended to extend the useful life of the runway.”

The runway measures 3,709 feet by 100 feet and, according to Airnav.com, the grooved asphalt is in “fair condition." There are displaced thresholds on both runways, and they are mostly used by smaller GA traffic, such as single-engine Cessnas, Pipers, Diamond and Cirrus aircraft, and light twins. 

The project will also include changes to the taxiways used to access Runway 14L/32R so that they will comply with the new FAA design standards, as well as upgrading the runway lighting to LEDs. 

“The work will be partially funded by a [FAA] Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant,” Ramey said. “Most of the runway construction will be conducted during daylight hours. However, the taxiway realignment work is being done at night as it is located inside the large runway's safety area. The FAA requires that a runway be closed when personnel and or equipment are inside of a runway safety area. Throughout the duration of the work in the safety area of the large runway, both airport runways will be closed. Night work was selected to minimize the disruptions to aircraft operations.”   

During the project, traffic will be shifted to Runway 14R/32L, which measures 10,007 feet by 200 feet.

The airport's traffic includes an eclectic mix of Boeing airliners, corporate jets, medical helicopters, and private aircraft. Two flight schools—one for fixed wing and one for helicopters—are also located at the facility.

The airport lies beneath the Class B airspace that covers Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA). The chart supplement book includes detailed information for both VFR and IFR pilots on the procedures used to arrive and depart from the busy, noise-sensitive airport. For example, there is a note that touch-and-goes are not permitted between 10 p.m.-7 a.m. PST.

Airport officials note that the runway project is subject to change due to weather. The preliminary schedule calls for construction mobilization to begin the week of March 17 and Phase 1 of the project to be completed by July 9. Phase 2 is scheduled to get underway on July 14 and be completed by October.

Boeing Field is located 4 miles south of Seattle. The airport was officially opened as a municipal facility in July 1928. The Boeing factory, which built seaplanes for a time, was located on the west side of the field. During World War II, the factory (known as Plant 2) that produced the B-17 covered much of the west side. The building was demolished several years ago to make room for Raisbeck Aviation High School and expansion of  the Museum of Flight, which is also on the west side of the runways.

The east side of the airport still includes the original brick terminal building that retains its 1930s-era art deco appointments. In addition there are still a few large box hangars north of the terminal that date back to the 1940s. During WWII the airport had the classic "triangle design" runways. After the war the airport infield was recontoured to create the two parallel runways