City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia International Airport Runway 9R-27L

Burns was engaged in a major airfield improvement at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) that involved the extension of several runways as well as construction of new taxiways.

This $120 million investment significantly increased runway and taxiway capacity, reduced aircraft congestion, and improved airfield safety. By expanding critical infrastructure, the project supports future growth at PHL and enhances passenger experience.

Runway 9R-27L is now PHL’s most used runway for takeoffs and landings. At 12,000-foot long-by-200-foot wide, with 25-foot shoulders, it is also the airport’s longest and most technically advanced runway, efficiently accommodating long-haul flights and ensuring safety and reliability in adverse weather conditions.

A major design challenge on the project was raising the grade in the runway extension area by three feet, which required extensive surcharging and soil stabilization. To maintain uninterrupted operations, temporary navigational aids were installed to keep the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and approach lighting systems in service throughout construction, except during the final runway closure.

The project scope included:

• Extension of the Runway by 1,500 feet and the installation of over 2,000 feet of new taxiways and hold areas for operations
• Removal and installation of Runway 9R localizer generator equipment
• Removal and installation of new Runway 27L Capture Effect Glide Slope system
• Removal and installation of “hybrid” MALSR system
• Extension of power and communication ductbank infrastructure
• Reconfiguration of Airfield Lighting Vault 3, which serves runway 9R-27L and adjacent taxiways, including the removal and installation of all CCRs.