Mayor Brandon Johnson and city aviation officials broke ground June 5 on a $47 million overhaul of a primary runway at Midway International Airport, promising improved airfield safety without disrupting passenger flights.
Runway 13C/31C — one of Midway’s main runways — will be repaved and upgraded to meet federal aviation standards. The project includes intersecting taxiway work, new guard lights, and a service road for emergency crews.
“Midway International Airport is one of the largest employers on the South Side, providing thousands of Chicagoans with quality jobs,” Johnson said at the groundbreaking. “This type of critical infrastructure investment is key to is key to furthering economic growth and opportunity, while also providing for an even safer air travel experience for generations of Midway flyers to come.
“I thank Southwest Airlines and the Illinois Congressional delegation for their financial support of this project, and I look forward to continued partnership with all the airlines that call Chicago’s neighborhood airport home: Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Porter Airlines, Southwest, and Volaris Airlines.”
Construction is led by K-Five Construction Corporation and has been in planning since 2022. The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking more than $37 million in federal funding through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program.
“This tremendous airfield upgrade will be completed with absolutely no impact on passenger flight operations,” said Aviation Commissioner Michael J. McMurray. “Safety is the top priority for each of the 9,000-plus employees who work at Midway.”
The project also aligns with ongoing changes to Midway’s runway designations. On Thursday, June 12, the airport will permanently decommission Runway 13L/31R. At the same time, the rehabilitated runway will be re-designated as Runway 13L/31R — a change already communicated to pilots and airfield personnel.
Southwest Airlines, Midway’s dominant carrier, praised the project.
“We are appreciative of the partnership from the City of Chicago to launch this critical project,” said Steve Sisneros, vice president of airport affairs at Southwest. “As Midway and Southwest both transform, we look forward to serving Chicagoans for years to come.”
The airfield improvements follow the $400 million Midway Modernization Program completed in fall 2023. That initiative expanded the passenger screening area, upgraded the terminal garage, and overhauled the concessions program.
Other upgrades coming to Midway under its five-year capital plan include restroom renovations, roof replacements, parking garage lighting upgrades, and the rehabilitation of Runway 4L/22R.