Tulsa International Airport Runway Gets Major Update To Improve Safety

Runway 18R/36L on the west side of Tulsa International Airport is getting a major update, something the airport said hasn’t happened in over 25 years.  

This work is part of a $13.2 project to fix the pavement and bring the runway safety areas up to date with FAA standards.

That means the first 600 feet of the north end of 18R will become a displaced threshold that can be used for planes taking off, but since planes are not allowed to land on a displaced threshold, this will shorten the available landing distance for southbound traffic from 6,100 to 5,500 feet.

The object-free area will protect planes in case they accidentally overrun the runway.

The project also includes replacing the top layer of asphalt that has been cracked and weathered over time. They will add new runway lighting and signage as well.

This part of the project is expected to wrap up this October. In 2023, the airport plans to add additional safety features to the south end of the runway.

While this runway is closed during the work, the airport's largest and most used runway, 18L/36R, is still in full use.