Billy Bishop airport reopens runway following extensive reconstruction

TORONTO — The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport rehabilitation project hit a milestone Nov. 3, officially re-opening a runway after it underwent extensive reconstruction earlier this summer.

Gene Cabral, executive vice-president, Billy Bishop airport and PortsToronto, was joined by representatives from Porter Airlines, Greater Toronto Airways, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, the Toronto Island Pilot’s Association, WSP Canada Inc. and Pave-Al Limited for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate two milestones in the rehabilitation project — the resurfacing of runway 08-26 and the full reconstruction of runway 06-24.

A release issued by PortsToronto indicates the three-year rehabilitation initiative is necessary to replace existing aging civil and electrical infrastructure and to modernize the airport. This work also includes replacing the runway lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting, restoration of the runway and reconfiguring taxiways.

"After a summer of intensive construction to restore and repave the runways at Billy Bishop Airport, I am pleased to come together with representatives of our airport community to celebrate this major milestone in the project," said Cabral in a statement. "These initiatives to modernize the airport will ensure it continues to serve as an economic engine for the city, provide much needed aviation service and provide efficient service to the 2.5 million passengers who travel through the airport each year."

Special procedures such as the barging of materials and supplies were implemented to ensure minimal impacts on local residents as well as travellers, explains a release. Additionally, given that a portion of construction activities took place during night-time hours when the airport is closed to air traffic, PortsToronto implemented a number of measures to minimize the community impact, including limitations on construction vehicle access and construction-related noise, as well as directing construction lighting downward and away from neighbourhoods, adds the release.