Approved Florida Runway Could Face Turbulence Ahead
Despite strong vocal opposition from residents, Broward County, Fla., commissioners decided June 5 to move forward with plans for a $694- million expansion of Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration considers the airport as one of the fastest-growing in the country.
Commissioners voted 6-3 in favor of lengthening a 5,300-ft-long runway to 8,000 ft by 2012, after listening to protesting citizens at a standing-room-only public meeting in a 1,200-seat convention center ballroom. The expansion will allow the airport to maintain annual aircraft delays below six to 10 minutes. The plan also adds a 75-ft-wide, full-length parallel taxiway and an outer dual parallel taxiway, eliminates a crosswind runway, and redevelops terminal gates.