The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has announced the reopening of Runway 06L/24R at Toronto Pearson, the airport’s second-busiest runway, after an eight-month rehabilitation.
Planning began over a year-and-a-half ago and is one of the biggest projects in Pearson’s history. The runway needed to be fully reconstructed due to the wearing down of its concrete sub-structure as a result of weather, use and time.
The ribbon cutting was attended by The Honorable Omar Alghabra, Federal Transport Minister, GTAA President and CEO Deborah Flint, along with local elected officials, GTAA teams responsible for the rehabilitation, and representatives from Dufferin Construction and Avia NG.
“It’s great to see the reopening of Runway 06L/24R after eight months of rehabilitation,” said Minister Alghabra. “As the busiest airport in Canada and one of the busiest in North America, the return of this runway at Pearson Airport will keep air passengers moving safely and smoothly in and out of the GTA. As the air sector continues to move through post-pandemic recovery, investments like this one in our transportation infrastructure will help us ensure that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector.”
“This runway is more than a marvel of modern engineering, as amazing as it is,” said Deborah Flint. “It paves the way for the next 30 years of YYZ stimulating Canada’s economy by facilitating trade, foreign direct investment, tourism and business. This runway is more than a place where planes land and take off; it’s emblematic of a brighter future, both for Toronto Pearson and Canada through the global connections and economic activity it enables.
“I thank the many GTAA teams and external partners involved in the planning and implementation of this complex project and delivering it safely, on time and on budget,” Deborah Flint continued. “My particular thanks go to Minister Alghabra and the federal government for the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program funding awarded to Pearson earlier this year, which partially funded this project.”
As part of the project, Pearson made a commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing emissions through construction of an on-site batch plant, crushing and reusing concrete from the original runway, and upgrading 1,800 incandescent lights to LED lights.
