Tucson International Airport Tucson Airport Authority Ryan Airfield

Airfield Safety Enhancement Program

TUS Runway to the Future

The Airfield Safety Enhancement (ASE) program will transition the airfield at Tucson International Airport (TUS) into a new era of safety and provide redundancy with a second parallel runway that will serve the Southern Arizona region for decades into the future.

ASE Program Is Four Projects

Estimated at $360 million (as of July 2022), the entire ASE program includes demolition of runway 11R/29L, a 75-foot wide by 8,000-foot long general aviation runway, and replace it with a new parallel runway that is 150-feet wide by 11,000 feet long, new taxiways and connector taxiways, installation of aircraft guidance systems and a modernization of the airfield geometry to meet current Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Construction has been divided into four projects – CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) overseeing the new runway and taxiways; DBB1 (Design-Bid Build) of taxiways on the west side of the airfield; DBB2 expansion of the safety area southeast of the new runway; and DBB3 modernization of the existing commercial runway.

ASE Program | Project Information

CMAR | Runway 12R/30L and Taxiways

Runway 12R/30L and Taxiways (CMAR)

Project includes:

Construct a new electrical vault. (completed 2021)
Demolish existing general aviation runway relocate and construct a new commercial service runway.
Construct a center taxiway between the existing and new parallel commercial runways.
Construct an outer taxiway.
Construct a new outboard parallel taxiway.
Construct new connector taxiways.
Construct a new Barrier Arresting Cable system for the Arizona Air National Guard.
Perform sound attenuation at certain homes (as identified in the Environmental Impact Study).

DBB1 | End-Around Taxiway Project

Project includes:

Construct new end-around taxiway and modify existing taxiways.

DBB2 | Earth Covered Magazine Demolition and Fencing

Project includes:

Demolish 12 earth covered magazines and construct replacements.
Expand airport safety area.

DBB3 | Runway 12R/30L Connector Taxiways

Project includes:

Modify connectors and taxiways to commercial runway standards.
Relocate aircraft guidance systems.

Construction Updates

The TAA broke ground on the End-Around Taxiway Project in November 2021. Below you can view a video of what the final project will look like upon completion in early 2023. View live construction here.

Timeline

2007 Ι Federal Aviation Administration amends reporting requirements expanding definition of airfield incursion
2008 Ι Under FAA’s new definition, Tucson International Airport leads the nation in reported airfield incursions
2010 Ι TAA conducts study of need for airfield safety improvements at TUS and identifies four “Hot Spots” on airfield
2012 Ι TAA completes study and makes changes to correct two of the identified hot spots, however, additional comprehensive changes are required to correct the two remaining “Hot Spots”
2015 Ι TAA completes TUS Master Plan Update that includes and validates the need for airfield safety enhancements
2015 Ι FAA announces Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) program
2015 Ι TAA completes an implementation plan for the safety enhancements
2016 Ι TAA, FAA and Arizona Air National Guard enter into Memorandum of Understanding outlining property transactions among the three entities
2016 Ι TAA files Notice of Intent to pursue airfield safety enhancements
2016 Ι FAA holds scoping meetings for the public and federal, state and local regulatory agencies
2017 Ι FAA issues draft Environmental Impact Statement based on comments received after scoping meetings
2018 Ι Public Hearing and Workshop held
2018 Ι FAA issues Record of Decision on November 28, which provides formal approval for the project to proceed
2019 Ι Design firms are selected and design work begins
2020 Ι Groundbreaking Ceremony is held October 15
2021 Ι Electrical vault project (GMP1) is substantially completed
2021 Ι End-Around Taxiway Project (DBB1) commences November
2022 Ι Outboard Taxiway C (GMP2) construction begins in August