Toronto (April 3, 2017) – As part of the ongoing three-year Airfield Rehabilitation Program, the public may notice airside construction activities at Billy Bishop Airport throughout the spring and summer months. This project began in 2016 with the resurfacing of the main runway and is being undertaken in an effort to modernize the airport and ensure it continues to serve as an economic engine for the city as well as providing efficient service to the more than 2 million passengers who travel through the airport each year.
 
Activities beginning the week of April 3 and continuing to the end of July are outlined below. Please note that much of the work being done on the airfield can only take place during overnight hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) while the airfield and runway are closed to commercial aircraft traffic.
 
Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE): GRE construction is anticipated to be substantially complete the week of April 3, with testing and commissioning activities taking place over the next two weeks, after which the facility is anticipated to be ready for its intended use for aircraft engine run-ups. More information on the GRE can be found here.
 
Runway 08-26 Grooving: This is a safety feature intended to improve the macro-texture of the pavement surface, reduce water film thicknesses during rainfall and provide an escape channel for water that may become trapped between the pavement surface and an aircraft tire. These effects reduce the potential for aircraft hydroplaning under wet conditions. Grooving may also improve aircraft braking performance on a wet runway as compared to a wet non-grooved runway. The work is anticipated to commence the week of April 3 during overnight hours while the runway is closed (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) and will be completed within 10-12 days. PortsToronto has instructed the contractor to control noise emission as much as possible, however elevated noise levels from grooving activities are anticipated. This work is intentionally being completed prior to the summer months when there is greater likelihood that residents will be outdoors and/or have windows open.
 
New FBO Apron 6 Construction: Work on the construction of a temporary general aviation aircraft apron between Taxiways Alpha, Bravo and Echo is anticipated to commence in late April and will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete. The work activities are anticipated to take place during overnight hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
 
Complete Conversion of Runway 15-33 to a Permanent Taxiway: Work on the full reconstruction of the old runway pavements and conversion to a new Taxiway Echo, including the installation of new airfield electrical infrastructure, is anticipated to commence in early May and last until the end of July 2017. The work activities are anticipated to take place during overnight hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
 
Completion of Improvements to Perimeter Service Road: The paving of a portion of the service roads adjacent to Runway 08-26 is anticipated to take place during overnight hours (11:00 p.m.to 6:00 a.m.) between May and the end of July 2017.
 
Electrical Infrastructure Replacement on Taxiway Alpha: The replacement of aging electrical infrastructure (taxiway edge lights, transformers, cabling) with new LED taxiway edge lights, transformers and cabling is anticipated to take place during overnight hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) between May and end of July 2017.
 
In order to minimize impacts to the neighbourhood from the project’s associated construction activities, the seasonal barging operation is anticipated to resume on May 1 and continue through to the estimated completion of construction work in July. Throughout the project, PortsToronto will continue to make best efforts to minimize disruption and regrets any inconvenience construction activities may cause.
 
More information on the Airfield Rehabilitation Project can be found on the project website, which will continue to be updated with a weekly look-ahead of anticipated construction activities and photos.
  About PortsToronto (http://www.portstoronto.com/)
For more than 100 years PortsToronto, (formerly the Toronto Port Authority), has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomes more than two million passengers each year; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $8 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.