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This fall, you may want to ask yourself, "Do I really need to fly out of Logan?"
Beginning August 31, Logan International Airport will close Runway 27 for roughly 75 days as crews begin the second phase of a major safety project. According to Massachusetts Port Authority, or Massport, construction is expected to wrap before Thanksgiving, but there's a lot of life happening in September and October from Labor Day trips to college visits. And no construction project ever falls behind schedule, right?
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The closure is in order to install an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS), which uses lightweight, crushable material to help stop an aircraft if it overruns the runway. Logan already has EMAS installations at Runways 22R and 33L, in case you're an aficionado of airport runways.
Phase 2 follows work completed last fall and will involve constructing a deck to support the new safety system, with part of that structure extending over the water. And no, the runway is not getting longer.
The catch for travelers is capacity. With Runway 27 out of commission, Logan will have fewer options for moving planes around, particularly when bad weather or other operational restrictions come into play. Massport says travelers could see delays during periods of inclement weather, air traffic restrictions and other disruptions.
The closure will also change routes around the region. Because flights will be shifted to Logan’s other runways, surrounding communities could experience increased air traffic. Additionally, residents near the airport should also expect construction noise, including pile driving. Massport says construction activity will take place during daytime hours, so at least there's that.
So, no need to cancel your fall vacation. Just check your flight before heading to Logan, give yourself some breathing room for connections and remember that the runway closure—and your delay—is ultimately about making the airport safer. And if you still need something to distract yourself, there's always the therapy dogs of Logan Airport's BOS PAWS program to put a smile back on your face.