LAS VEGAS (AP) — The longest runway at McCarran International Airport is about to close for six months for a major overhaul.
Airport officials say they plan to close the runway early Wednesday to start replacing the asphalt with more durable concrete. The construction project is the second phase of a $65 million renovation project.
The runway handles about one-third of the airport's annual traffic but is used less during the cooler months because wind patterns often push traffic to other runways that go from north to south.
Clark County Director of Aviation Rosemary Vassiliadis warned that the shift will likely increase aircraft noise in some parts of the Las Vegas valley.
The project is funded by Federal Aviation Administration Grants and money generated by the airport, not local tax dollars.
