New Runways for U.S. Airports

Three major U.S. airports are all scheduled to bring new runways online this week, helping to alleviate airport congestion at those commercial airfields. Seattle-Tacoma International, which struggled for years with only two parallel runways, opens a new, 8,500-foot west runway 16R/34L. Chicago O'Hare International's controversial sixth runway will also open The 7,500-foot runway is the first new runway there since 1971. Washington Dulles International will debut a new 9,400-foot 1L/19R, which gives the airport the capability to handle three incoming flights or takeoffs simultaneously. It's the airport's fourth runway, and was built at a cost of cost $355 million.