The City of Chicago has broken ground on a $47 million rehabilitation project for Runway 13C/31C at Midway International Airport, marking the airport’s largest capital investment of the year. The project will repave the primary runway and its intersecting taxiways, install new runway guard lights, and build a new roadway to support aircraft rescue and firefighting operations.
K-Five Construction Corporation is leading the work, which will be completed primarily during overnight hours to avoid disrupting flight operations. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) began planning the project in 2022 and is seeking more than $37 million in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the FAA’s Airport Improvement Grant program.
The project is part of Midway’s five-year capital plan and follows the $400 million Midway Modernization Program, which upgraded terminal facilities and expanded passenger screening capacity. Additional upcoming improvements include parking garage lighting upgrades, terminal restroom renovations, roof replacements, and rehabilitation of Runway 4L/22R.
As part of the current project, Midway will permanently decommission Runway 13L/31R on June 12 and redesignate the rehabilitated runway as 13L/31R to align with federal standards.