Hilo airport runway to be closed nightly beginning Monday for lighting upgrades

Nighttime air travelers and airline operations could be affected as the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation begins work to upgrade lighting infrastructure on runways at Hilo International Airport for the next 4 months.

Phase 4 of the Taxiway and Runway Lighting Replacement Project will replace all runway and taxiway lighting infrastructure, light fixtures and airfield signs as well as improve the electrical draining system at Hilo’s airport.

The project, which is part of the state Transportation Department’s ongoing efforts to maintain the runway and improve takeoff and taxiway operations, starts Monday night.

Work will require the overnight closure of Runway 8-26 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for a minimum of 128 calendar days. Runway 3-21 will be used as an alternate for aircraft operations during the closure.

The department scheduled the work at night to minimize impacts to air travelers and airline operations and reduce the project duration as much as possible.

The schedule for the ongoing project at the Hilo airport can be found here.