Valdez Airport Rehabilitation
IRIS No. NFAPT00796

We are working to rehabilitate the Valdez Airport, also known as Pioneer Field. The purpose of this project is to improve safety, extend the useful life of the airport, and help promote aviation commerce in the area. Improvements to the airport will include repaving the runway, taxiway, and apron, replacing airport lighting, replacing and extending the perimeter fence, designing drainage improvements, and expanding the existing apron area.

Aerial view of the Valdez Airport Rehabilitation project area.

Why are we making these improvements?

The existing airport runway, apron, and taxiway pavement were installed in 2003 and are at the end of their design life. Crack sealing is no longer an effective form of maintenance due to the extent of the pavement deterioration, so we plan to re-pave the runway.

Drainage improvements will help reduce ponding on and around the runway. This existing ponding can attract wildlife and create a safety hazard. These drainage improvements will also help ensure transformers for the new lighting system stay dry and ice-free.

Expanding the existing apron will support the community’s increased aviation commerce needs. Replacing and completing the perimeter fence is needed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 139 security requirements.

What will the construction impacts be?

We anticipate that the airport will remain open to air traffic during construction.

• We plan to close the runway while working on it, but we will convert the parallel taxiway to a temporary runway.
• We plan to time our construction schedule of the taxiway and apron to maintain parking and at least two taxiway connections to the runway.

Project Schedule

The project team is currently working on the environmental document and preliminary design. We will be attending the 2025 Annual Fly In to engage with the community. We expect to have a final design ready by 2027 to be eligible to apply for grant funding for the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028 and last into 2029.

Ponding at the Valdez Airport.

This project is being developed in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration.