Toronto Pearson unveils revamped runway, one of the biggest projects in airport history

The completion of a major construction project at Toronto’s Pearson International airport could help improve the flow of air traffic ahead of the Christmas holidays — one of the busiest times of the year for travel.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday to reveal the the rebuild of one of the airport’s runways (06L/24R).

“Runway 06L/24R is back open for business. The rehabilitation is now complete, on time, and on budget,” Toronto Pearson airport said on its website. “We thank our neighbours, airport community, and project partners for their support and patience throughout this project.”

The undertaking started in April 2022 as Toronto Pearson’s second busiest runway was ripped up for an $80 million rebuild. The work lasted eight months, from April to November 2022, but Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), said planning for the project began over a year and a half ago.

“This runway is more than a marvel of modern engineering, as amazing as it is,” Flint said. “This runway is more than a place where planes land and take off; it’s emblematic of a brighter future, both for Toronto Pearson and Canada through the global connections and economic activity it enables.”

It was considered an intricate project under any circumstance, but it made it even more complex because the construction crews had to be mindful of the ongoing airport activity at adjacent runways.

Toronto Pearson said the second-busiest, 3-kilometre runway needed to be fully repaired due to the wearing down of its concrete sub-structure caused by weather conditions, use and time.

Officials said that the rehabilitation project should extend the runway’s life by 30 years and enhance its safety.

Canada’s Transport Minister Omar Alghabra discussed that on Monday while revealing how the federal government is preparing for elevated travel levels over the next several weeks through the holidays.

“It’s great to see the reopening of Runway 06L/24R after eight months of rehabilitation,” said Minister Alghabra.

People wait with their luggage at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Friday, August 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

“As the busiest airport in Canada and one of the busiest in North America, the return of this runway at Pearson Airport will keep air passengers moving safely and smoothly in and out of the GTA. As the air sector continues to move through post-pandemic recovery, investments like this one in our transportation infrastructure will help us ensure that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector.”

Earlier this year, major delays and flight cancellations at airports across Canada drew scrutiny from passengers and politicians alike. Among other measures to ease the chaos, the government promised to ramp up the hiring of security screeners — and did so, with more than 2,000 new screeners hired since April.

In early November, Flint and the GTAA announced new methods to improve the airport experience for passengers at Pearson, including the launch of YYZ Express, which allows passengers to pre-book a spot in line for security screening.

At the time, the GTAA said Pearson was committed to working with the federal government and industry partners “to deliver a seamless experience for travellers.”

With files from CityNews 680’s Mike Eppel