In July, the Department of Aviation completed significant electrical upgrades on Taxiway L at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE). These improvements are part of a series of pavement and electrical infrastructure projects at PNE, Pennsylvania's third busiest airport. The Taxiway L Rehabilitation Program is a multi-year program at PNE designed to enhance the airport’s capacity, operational efficiency, and long-term reliability.
The program is divided into three packages that encompass extensive pavement, electrical rehabilitation, runway, and edge lighting work. Packages 1 and 2 are currently under construction. Package 1, initiated in April 2023 with a budget of $3.9 million, is nearing completion. It involved major electrical work, such as improvements to the runway lighting- specifically replacement of the Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI), the Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL), the fiber optic network on Runway 6-24, and the edge light upgrades on Taxiway L.
Packages 2 and 3 will continue the pavement and edge light work initiated in Package 1 and will run from April 2024- August 2024 and April 2025 - August 2025, respectively. Upon completion of Package 3, PNE will feature a new taxiway system parallel to Runway 6-24, servicing both the airport and two direct tenants.
The project team is utilizing the full-depth reclamation method for the pavement work for all three packages. This sustainable technique involves pulverizing existing pavement and reusing it as the new base layer, conserving materials, budget, and time.
Capital Development Group Project Manager Kenneth Pooler of AECOM emphasized the project’s importance. "Taxiway L is a main artery with essential tenant access points. Keeping these areas operational is crucial for meeting projected capacity requirements and supporting future flight activity at the airport."
Successfully managing this program requires careful coordination with other ongoing projects and adherence to critical grant timelines. Despite these challenges, the maintenance and upgrades will ensure PNE’s continued reliability and efficiency, positioning the airport for the future and improved operational capabilities.
The PNE Taxiway L project has received $6,662,455 in grant funding to date: three Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grants and two Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grants.
