The airport is now open after undergoing a nine-month long renovation project. The Telluride runway is completely leveled. The center is filled in, and the edges are cut down to make the landing surface flatter. The expansion will allow larger aircrafts to utilize the airport.
The renovation project has leveled the runway by taking away the 16 feet dip in the center of the strip. This has helped the airport to get rid of its reputation as one of the nation’s hairiest landings.
The airport was closed for nine months since April 7, 2009. Located on a plateau, the airport’s single runway literally dips slightly in the center. The runway was a challenging approach for pilots, particularly those operating commuter aircraft or business jets.
The cost of runway leveling project was estimated to be more than $24 million. About $23 million was granted by Federal Aviation Administration in addition to a $250,000 grant from the Division of Aeronautics. The additional money was provided by the airport.
In June 2010, the next phase of renovation to widen the safety area on the east end of the runway will begin.
