Airport set to close taxiway in preparation for expansion project

February 10, 2015

Runway operations at Tampa International Airport are set to change on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the closure of the Taxiway J Bridge for demolition and reconstruction as part of the airport’s expansion project.

The temporary closure, expected to last 19 months, will result in more aircraft noise between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in neighborhoods adjacent to the airport. No passengers will be delayed or impacted as a result of these changes.

The reconstruction of the Taxiway J Bridge, which spans the George Bean Parkway, is necessary to accommodate the airport’s new people mover.

Aircraft use the Taxiway J Bridge to reach the east side of the airfield after landing on Runway 1L, TPA’s main runway, located on the west side of the airport.

During the bridge closure, all corporate jets will be allowed to land on the airport’s noise sensitive runway on the east side of the airport and some commercial jets will be assigned to land on the same. This is necessary to prevent the congestion and safety risks that would result if all planes had to taxi around the north end of the airport to reach gates on the east side of the terminal.

Use of the noise sensitive runway will be limited to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the busiest times of the day when it is most necessary from an operational standpoint to reroute planes and people are more likely to be away from home.

“This is, first and foremost, a safety measure to protect passengers, employees and aircraft movement,” said John Tiliacos, Tampa International Airport’s Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. “However, we also want to be a good neighbor to our surrounding homes and businesses and will continue to do all we can to monitor and mitigate noise impacts for the duration of this taxiway project.”

TPA has a long history of engaging communities surrounding the airport through the airport’s Community Noise Consortium Program.  The airport aims to stay vigilant and responsive to noise concerns through the airport’s voluntary noise abatement program, which has been in place for more than 40 years.

Residents with questions about noise impacts are asked to contact the airport’s Noise Office at (813) 870-7843 or visit the airport’s Noise Abatement page www.tampaairport.com/noise-abatement where they may submit a comment or question.   

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