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Airfield Safety Enhancement Program

TUS Runway to the Future

The Airfield Safety Enhancement (ASE) program will transition the airfield at Tucson International Airport (TUS) into a new era of safety and provide redundancy with a second parallel runway that will serve the Southern Arizona region for decades into the future.

ASE Program Is Four Projects

Estimated at $360 million (as of July 2022), the entire ASE program includes demolition of runway 11R/29L, a 75-foot wide by 8,000-foot long general aviation runway, and replace it with a new parallel runway that is 150-feet wide by 11,000 feet long, new taxiways and connector taxiways, installation of aircraft guidance systems and a modernization of the airfield geometry to meet current Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Construction has been divided into four projects – CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) overseeing the new runway and taxiways; DBB1 (Design-Bid Build) of taxiways on the west side of the airfield; DBB2 expansion of the safety area southeast of the new runway; and DBB3 modernization of the existing commercial runway.

ASE Program | Project Information

CMAR | Runway 12R/30L and Taxiways

Runway 12R/30L and Taxiways (CMAR)

Project includes:

  • Construct a new electrical vault. (completed 2021)
  • Demolish existing general aviation runway relocate and construct a new commercial service runway.
  • Construct a center taxiway between the existing and new parallel commercial runways.
  • Construct an outer taxiway.
  • Construct a new outboard parallel taxiway.
  • Construct new connector taxiways.
  • Construct a new Barrier Arresting Cable system for the Arizona Air National Guard.
  • Perform sound attenuation at certain homes (as identified in the Environmental Impact Study).

DBB1 | End-Around Taxiway Project

Project includes:

  • Construct new end-around taxiway and modify existing taxiways.

DBB2 | Earth Covered Magazine Demolition and Fencing

Project includes:

  • Demolish 12 earth covered magazines and construct replacements.
  • Expand airport safety area.

DBB3 | Runway 12R/30L Connector Taxiways

Project includes:

  • Modify connectors and taxiways to commercial runway standards.
  • Relocate aircraft guidance systems.

Construction Updates

  • The TAA broke ground on the End-Around Taxiway Project in November 2021. Below you can view a video of what the final project will look like upon completion in early 2023. View live construction here.

Timeline

  • 2007  Ι  Federal Aviation Administration amends reporting requirements expanding definition of airfield incursion
  • 2008  Ι  Under FAA’s new definition, Tucson International Airport leads the nation in reported airfield incursions
  • 2010  Ι  TAA conducts study of need for airfield safety improvements at TUS and identifies four “Hot Spots” on airfield
  • 2012  Ι  TAA completes study and makes changes to correct two of the identified hot spots, however, additional comprehensive changes are required to correct the two remaining “Hot Spots”
  • 2015  Ι  TAA completes TUS Master Plan Update that includes and validates the need for airfield safety enhancements
  • 2015  Ι  FAA announces Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) program
  • 2015  Ι  TAA completes an implementation plan for the safety enhancements
  • 2016  Ι  TAA, FAA and Arizona Air National Guard enter into Memorandum of Understanding outlining property transactions among the three entities
  • 2016  Ι  TAA files Notice of Intent to pursue airfield safety enhancements
  • 2016  Ι  FAA holds scoping meetings for the public and federal, state and local regulatory agencies
  • 2017  Ι  FAA issues draft Environmental Impact Statement based on comments received after scoping meetings
  • 2018  Ι  Public Hearing and Workshop held
  • 2018  Ι  FAA issues Record of Decision on November 28, which provides formal approval for the project to proceed
  • 2019  Ι  Design firms are selected and design work begins
  • 2020  Ι  Groundbreaking Ceremony is held October 15
  • 2021  Ι  Electrical vault project (GMP1) is substantially completed
  • 2021  Ι End-Around Taxiway Project (DBB1) commences November
  • 2022  Ι Outboard Taxiway C (GMP2) construction begins in August

TAA Commemorates Start of End-Around-Taxiway Construction – December 2021

Groundbreaking News Release – October 2020

FAA Record of Decision – November 2018

TUS Implementation Study – May 2015

In the News

New Era for Tucson International Airport – April 19, 2022, Biz Tucson
Tucson airport stands to gain $31M from pending federal infrastructure bill – August 27, 2021, Arizona Daily Star
Granite Awarded $25.7 Million Airfield Safety Enhancement Project at Tucson International Airport – August 19, 2021, Business Wire
$18.5 million investment announced for Tucson International Airport – July 15, 2021, KOLD News 13
New Runway for Tucson International Airport – January 7, 2021, Biz Tucson
Tucson airport breaks ground on $300M airfield improvements project – Oct. 16, 2020, Arizona Daily Star
$300 million safety project underway at Tucson International Airport  – Oct. 15, 2020, KOLD News 13
Tucson International Airport Paves The Way With A Transformative Airfield Safety Project – October/November 2019, Airport Magazine
Major runway project to improve safety at Tucson International Airport – Dec. 18, 2018, Arizona Daily Star
Video, resurfacing part of wrong runway prevention at Tucson International – Nov. 7, 2017, KOLD News 13

Thank You

  • U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
  • Arizona Department of Transportation
  • Arizona Air National Guard
  • Pima County
  • City of Tucson

Project Leads

  • WSP USA Program Manager and Construction Manager
  • HDR Inc. CMAR Design
  • Granite Construction CMAR and DBB1 Construction
  • Jacobs and Dibble Engineering DBB1 Prime Contractors
  • Garver DBB2 Prime Contractor
  • Reynolds, Smith & Hills DBB3 Prime Contractor
  • Landrum & Brown Environmental Impact Statement consultant
  • HNTB Phases 1 and 2 Studies and TUS Master Plan Update
  • Jacobsen Daniels Safety Risk Management Panel facilitator

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Tucson International Airport
7250 South Tucson Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85756
(520) 573-8100