(September 20, 2003) -- At the September 23 City Council meeting, city management is asking Councilmembers to approve plans and specifications, and simultaneously award a contract, to resurface LB Airport's main runway 30/12. The project is accompanied by a city management plan to divert (and in some cases reduce) main Runway traffic -- including large jet aircraft -- onto runway 25R/7L for parts of the ten to twelve month construction period. Smaller aircraft will be diverted onto 25L/7R.

LB Airport says it's working to minimize the diverisons.

Runway 25R/7L is nearly three quarters of a mile shorter than LB Airport's main diagonal runway and runs east-west aligned slightly north of Monlaco Rd. in ELB (b/w Wardlow Rd. and Conant St., 5th Council district) and 36th St. west of Cherry Ave. (7th Council district). 7L is the same runway used in reverse direction during reversed wind conditions.

(25L/7R is even shorter, aligned roughly between Mezzanine Ave. & Spring St. on the east, going over the 405 freeway on the west.)

LBReport.com has learned that diversions onto 25R/7L may not be limited to the seven to eight weekend periods in summer 2004, previously announced by LB Airport and first reported by LBReport.com. With much of the work scheduled to occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m, corporate jets and late arriving commercial carriers may also be diverted onto 25R/7L during some late night and overnight periods for ten to twelve months, although LB Airport says it is taking steps to try to avoid this.

LB Airport spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson told LBReport.com that the Airport and its carriers are working cooperatively to coordinate and try to avoid late arrivals on 25R/7L when it is known runway 30/12 will be closed for construction on a particular night(s) between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

A memo to Councilmembers from Dep. City Mgr. and Acting Public Works Dir. Christine Shippey, approved by City Mgr. Jerry Miller and accompanying management's request for voted Council approval, states in part:

"All of the airlines have agreed to the specific dates for the required weekend closures of the main runway and have modified their flight schedules to accommodate this need." It adds, "In order to meet this schedule, the project needs to be awarded on September 23, 2003."

However, management's memo does not mention mimimizing use of 25R/7L at any other times during the ten to twelve month construction period. There are no scheduled large jet aircraft late night or overnight flights, but some do occur (arrivals usually ascribed to weather or mechanical problems) along with some corporate and charter jet usage.

If these coincided with main runway 30/12 late night or overnight closures, they would end up on 25R/7L during the ten to twelve month construction period.

LB's main runway 30/12 is 10,000 feet long. Runway 25R/7L is 6,192 feet...or 3,808 feet shorter -- 0.72 miles or slightly less than three quarters of a mile shorter -- than main runway 30/12. By our estimate [roughly and unofficially reckoned using a "Thomas" guide], Clark Ave., at which homes begin in a large tract stretching eastward, is just over half a mile from the eastern (approach) end of 25R/7L. At the west end, homes begin just west of Cherry Ave...less than a quarter of a mile from the end of 25R/7L.

In recent weeks, residents got an up close and personal preview of what diversions to 25R/7L are like after potholes popped up in main runway 30/12 (one of the reasons for its rehab). When LB Airport closed 30/12 for emergency repairs, that caused the FAA to divert flights onto 25R/7L, which at roughly 60% the length of the main runway results in large aircraft skimming rooftops at even lower levels for many residents than "normal" approaches and takeoffs on main runway 30/12.

In a memorandum to Councilmembers, city staff says:

Information posted on LB Airport's web site (www.lgb.org) says:

LB city staff has scheduled a noise management workshop (for info via LB Airport, click here) to discuss the runway 30/12 construction project and noise issues in detail at the Petroleum Club on Sept. 25 (7:00-8:30 p.m.)...two days after the currently scheduled Council vote.

In addition to the seven to eight anticipated weekend closures in 2004, and possible late night/overnight diversions if they can't be avoided, the Airport has previously advised (and LBReport.com has reported) that between now and summer 2004, there may be occasional closures of 30/12 and resulting use of 25R/7L when Airport officials must check out reports of unusual occurrences (potholes and the like) on the aging main runway.

As also previously reported by LBReport.com, in May 2002 the Council voted 9-0 (Yes: Lowenthal, Baker, Colonna, Carroll, Kell, Richardson, Grabinski, Webb, Shultz) to get a report discussing the Airport's impacts on residential homeowners. Over a year later, the report has not been presented.