ORD Runway 9R/27L Extension
Last October, the Chicago Department of Aviation began a project extending runway 9R/27L at O’Hare International Airport by 3,000 feet. The project will cost an estimated $334 million, and is expected to be completed in 2021. This is quite the undertaking as ORD’s 9R/27L is already its most heavily used runway, and will remain operational while the construction activity takes place in the middle of one of the world’s busiest airports. When completed, the extension will allow for even more traffic, especially from the larger Group V and VI aircraft.
A critical part of the extension project is relocating the threshold at the west end of the runway. The new threshold has already been installed, and the old, existing threshold will be removed in the future. Since there were multiple sizes of in-pavement light bases used, and conduits running through the system at various grades, the contractor decided to prefabricate the entire threshold lighting system, and drop it in the ground using several gantries.
The FAA in Chicago specified grade 5, fluoropolymer coated bolts, along with stainless steel wedge lock washers to be used for securing the threshold lights to their bases. This will ensure a high strength, bolted connection that will resist both corrosion, and loosening over time. GBA Components was happy to provide the bolts and washers used in this project, and we look forward to continuing the effort of strengthening airfield infrastructure.
