Start of rehabilitation work on the BNIA airstrip

Cheektowaga, New York (WBEN) – Construction has begun on Runway 5-23 at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The NFTA says flights will arrive and depart as scheduled with a different runway in operation.

Russ Stark of the NFTA said construction of the track began last month to get a head start. Depending on changes made by contractors, the majority of work will begin next week.

“Work on the taxiways and runway safety areas and a lot of prep work is going on to prepare us for the closures, the cardiac closures that are coming in August,” Stark said in an interview with WBEN .

Despite the permanent closure of Runway 5-23, Stark says it will not affect flight operations at the airport since flights will take off and land on Runway 1432. He notes that this will result in more significant communications.

“If we do indeed receive a larger aircraft during the month of July, we will suspend construction so that aircraft can move in or out,” Stark said.

However, he notes that it is on a case-by-case basis to avoid too much disruption.

Stark said he expects complaints about noise from neighbors.

“Everybody has their windows open. It’s summer, it’s nice weather here in Western New York, but it’s going to be for a very short time,” Stark said.

To avoid this as much as possible, Stark says crews will not work on weekends. He asks for residents’ patience.

The strict closure will remain in effect until October 1, then it will revert to night closures until November 1.