‘Historic' Deal Reached for New Runway at O'Hare

Construction will begin in May with the new runway opening in 2020

The city of Chicago and two major airlines have reached a $1.3 billion deal to build the final runway in the overhaul of O'Hare International Airport.

The agreement between the city, United Airlines and American Airlines was announced Saturday. Construction will begin in May with the new runway opening in 2020, according to a release sent by the mayor’s office.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke at a news conference Sunday and explained that the focus has shifted for O’Hare to become the busiest airport to the best airport in the world.

“So today, we’re not only laying the groundwork for a 21st century airport, but it will power a Chicago for a 21st century economy,” said Emanuel.

Mayor Emanuel called the agreement a "landmark deal" in a previously sent news release.

"This historic agreement enhances O’Hare's role as the economic engine of Chicago and the region," the mayor wrote in the release.

For years, Chicago has been untangling O'Hare's six crisscrossing runways and rearranging them in a safer, more efficient side-by-side layout. It's supposed to unclog one of the nation's worst aviation bottlenecks.

The new runway will create additional gates and improve flights’ on-time performance, according to the mayor's office. It will be the second largest runway at O'Hare, measuring 11,245-feet-long and 200-feet-wide.

The project is expected to create more than 5,000 construction and professional service jobs, according to the release.

“It’s important to us to know that the mayor has made this commitment up front to make sure that this is going to be not only a diverse workforce, but a diverse contracting opportunity for our businesses and to bring some income back into those communities that so badly need it,” said Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, during Sunday's news conference.

The city also plans to have all eligible homes and schools near the airport sound-proofed before the runway opens, according to the mayor’s office.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel told Crain's Chicago Business the city went after the deal "like a heat-seeking missile." He told the Chicago Tribune his goal is to make O'Hare the nation's best airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration is contributing $345 million to the project.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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