Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport received a Letter of Intent from the Federal Aviation Administration committing up to $180 million in Airport Improvement Program grant funding for two end-around taxiway systems. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao delivered the Letter of Intent to the Airport in person, underscoring the importance of investing in airport infrastructure.
The next phase of the end-around taxiways is already under construction on DFW’s northeast quadrant, with completion anticipated by 2021. DFW Airport’s southwest quadrant taxiway is expected to be built by 2023. The federal funding included in the Letter of Intent could cover up to half of the overall cost of the next two phases.
DFW opened its first end-around taxiway system on the southeast side of the Airport in 2008.
End-around taxiways enable arriving aircraft to taxi around DFW’s seven active runways rather than wait to cross them. The taxiways enhance safety because they virtually eliminate runway crossings, reducing the risk of possible incursions. End-around taxiways ultimately produce gains in runway efficiency and reduce overall taxi times for arriving aircraft.
The taxiway projects are a key part of DFW’s overall 10-year infrastructure improvement plan, which includes enhancing or rebuilding runways, roadways, bridges and other major infrastructure needs on the Airport grounds.
Separately, Secretary Chao also delivered a $31 million AIP grant for the rehabilitation of Runway 17-C at the Airport. Construction on Runway 17-C is scheduled to be complete in 2019, with minimal disruption to customers.
