Point Hope Airport Realignment

Project No. 3-02-0226-006-2022/Z638420000

Caption: Point Hope location and proposed realignment plan.

This project is to realign the Point Hope Runway. The purpose of this project is to reduce further erosion from damaging the airport.

The Point Hope Airport Realignment project is needed to reestablish the Runway Safety Area (RSA) which is being eroded on the north end and to replace the aging pavement that needs reconstruction based on a 2014 Pavement Inspection. The north shore of the Lisburne Peninsula, where Point Hope is located, has a recorded erosion rate of 8-10 feet per year! This has already removed the northern end of the RSA and is threatening the runway, leaving only 20 feet of RSA beyond the runway threshold.

To mitigate further erosion, the runway will be realigned approximately 13.4 degrees east, over 500 feet from the furthest extent of the erosion, to be more in line with orientation of the spit it is located on.

Work on this project includes:

• Constructing a new paved Runway 3/21 and safety area on a rotated alignment of 13.4 degrees east of the existing runway
• Realigning the taxiway to coincide with the new runway alignment
• Repaving the existing apron
• Constructing new airport lighting, signage, and markings
• Replacing existing vertical approach slope indicators (VASIs) with precision approach path indicators (PAPIs)
• Demolishing the existing runway and associated electrical improvements
• Replacing the Electrical Equipment Building (EEB)
• Replacing the segmented circle

Our project staff is currently working on preparing for the upcoming construction season. All barges are on hold until the arctic sea ice breaks up enough for them to bring equipment and materials to the site. Construction on this project is expected to begin in June 2024.

This project is being constructed in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, the City of Point Hope, and ASRC Civil Construction, LLC.

A photo of the current Pt. Hope Airport. DOT&PF photo.