BURLINGTON, Mass. – The Federal Aviation Administration plans to re-evaluate the environmental impact statement and record of decision for T.F. Green Airport’s airport improvement program, the federal agency announced Thursday.
According to the FAA release, the graft re-evaluation will allow the Rhode Island Airport Corporation to avoid the relocation of Airport Road by installing a crushable concrete buffer zone at the end of Runway 34.
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The buffer zone, called an engineered material arresting system, would stop an aircraft that overran the end of the runway. This would eliminate the need to relocate Airport Road and purchase land at the intersection of Airport and Post Roads.
In September 2011, the FAA record of decision approved a larger buffer zone. Since then, RIAC has determined that the estimated costs related to relocating the road increased the project costs “significantly.”
“Due to the higher cost estimate, RIAC and the FAA agreed to review alternatives,” said the FAA release. “When determining the feasibility of airport improvements, the FAA must consider the cost as well as safety benefits.”
According to the FAA, the scope of the project to extend Runway 5-23 to 8,700 feet from 7,166 feet still remains unchanged.
The public comment period on the FAA draft re-evaluation is 30 days, beginning Dec. 7. Comments can be emailed to Richard.doucette@faa.gov.
