MSP International Airport
Runway 17/35
MSP's fourth runway, Runway 17/35, opened for service on October 27, 2005. Originally scheduled to begin operation in late 2003, completion was deferred two years due to budgetary considerations resulting from the events of 9-11-01.
Often called the north-south runway, the 8,000-foot pavement extends north towards Mother Lake and Minneapolis and south toward Bloomington and the Mall Of America. The new runway intersects with the airport's crosswind runway, Runway 4/22, and at its northern tip sits just west of the south parallel runway, 12R/30L. Runway 17/35 increased the airfield capacity of MSP by as much as 25 percent.
Runway and taxiway sections were paved in 25-foot wide lanes. It can take up to 8 hours to pave a lane 2,000 feet long.
At the end of each runway is an area known as the runway protection zone (RPZ). This is an area 2,500 feet long from the end of the runway that must be as clear as possible of obstructions. The RPZ for Runway 17/35 extends south to American Boulevard (formerly 80th Street) in Bloomington and from 24th Avenue east toward Metro Drive. Therefore, hotels, gas stations and related facilities that were within the RPZ had to be demolished. Businesses such as Budget Car Rental, Sun Country, and Mesaba that were outside the RPZ but had other airspace issues have been relocated to other areas in and around the airport.
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