CHICAGO (WLS) — A construction project at Chicago Midway International Airport could affect travelers in the coming weeks as crews repair a critical runway safety system.
Runway 22L is currently closed at Midway. On Monday, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced that repairs were needed to a runway safety system.
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“This is a surprise. It’s a big deal for an airport that just has you know a couple crossing runways. Usually, these are planned months in advance. We’re going to have some difficulty with the density of operations, particularly on the weekends,” said Joe Schweiterman, an aviation expert at DePaul University.
The repairs involve the Engineered Materials Arresting System, or EMAS, at the departure end of Runway 22L. According to a news release from the Chicago Department of Aviation, the system was damaged by recent aircraft activity, including jet blast from departing planes.
Schweiterman said EMAS plays a critical safety role at Midway.
“This will stop a plane really fast. You know, the wheels will get an effect. The friction from this breakable surface will stop the plane abruptly, and that’s seen as critical with the short runways we have at Midway,” Schweiterman said.
In 2005, a Southwest Airlines plane ran off Runway 31C at Midway going through a blast fence and struck several cars. Six-year-old Joshua Woods of Leroy, Indiana, died, and a dozen other people were injured.
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Some travelers at Midway said they were keeping an eye on potential flight disruptions as repairs moved forward.
“Hopefully it’s safe? But yeah, I mean, I’m pretty sure they’ll get it done pretty fast,” said Gio Martinez, who was traveling with his son Sammy for a birthday trip.
Patrick Cryer said he checked his travel plans after hearing about the runway closure.
“We just I saw it on the news and immediately got on the Southwest website and just see what the status of our flight was. And fortunately, it is still on time as of when we walked in here,” Cryer said.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-November, just before holiday travel traffic typically increases.
“I hope so because that is going to be terrible if you know there are delays during that type of time,” traveler Dominique Jackson said, referring to the approaching holiday travel season.
The city has warned that the project could cause delays and is encouraging travelers to check their flights before heading to the airport.
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Source: abc7chicago.com
