Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) has received $15m in US stimulus funds to reconstruct its one of two crosswind runways.
The grant awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will allow the airport authority to speed up the original two-year project to a single construction season in 2009, enhancing the short-term economic impact of the project to the region.
The project will total $34.6m and will improve the marking and lighting systems on the runway.
Currently, the runway 9L /27R, which is primarily used during strong westerly wind conditions, is 8,700ft long and 200ft wide.
The development work will decrease the width to 150ft to meet the norms of Federal Aviation Administration and to reduce the construction and maintenance costs, as well as snow removal response time.
Work is expected to begin in June and the rebuilt runway will have a lifespan of 20 years.
Air traffic at the airport will be operated normally on four primary runways until the runway reconstruction is complete.
