By Adam Swift
Representatives from Massport met with the town council last week to discuss ongoing runway work at Logan Airport as well as the agency’s ongoing soundproofing program for residents.
“The Runway 27 approach end was last enhanced in 1992 with the construction of an incline safety area,” said Sarah Dennechuk, deputy director of airfield projects for Massport. “These new technologies allow even closer adherence to the FAA safety standards while further minimizing environmental impacts. So the purpose of this project is to increase safety for aircraft and their passengers in emergency situations by enhancing the Runway 27N safety area consistent with FAA requirements.”
Before construction began in September, Dennechuk said the east end of the runway did not meet safety standards for undershoot or overrun criteria.
The project will not extend the runway or change its operational capacity, Dennechuk said. The project calls for the construction of an EMAS (engineered materials arresting system) and emergency access ramps at either side of the deck.
The project is currently in the middle of a 75-day work schedule for this year, and is scheduled to be completed with a second 75-day work schedule beginning next summer, according to Dennechuk, with all work slated to be finished in the fall of 2026.
Precinct 5 Councilor Joseph Aiello questioned the notification to town residents, and also asked if there was a way that work could be stopped or lessened on the weekends, citing the noise and vibrations.
Dennechuk noted that to get the work done in the two required 75-day windows, it does require seven days per week of work.
“It seems very unfair that, for whatever reason, you are forced to have to work seven days a week,” said Aiello. “It would be helpful to understand whether you examined real alternatives to that. I know that we are almost done with this cycle, (but) I hope there is real discussion and real conversation with the council and the community about next year’s program to make sure we don’t experience this stuff again.”
Massport representatives also discussed the current soundproofing program, which is still in the pilot phase, but could include updated soundproofing for up to 30 to 60 homes per year in the coming years.
In 2020, the FAA determined that homes that were treated prior to 1993 in eligible areas are eligible for soundproofing.
Officials stated that Massport is currently developing a backlog of eligible homes in Winthrop to expedite the design and bidding phase of the project. They stated that Massport is also submitting noise exposure maps to the FAA more frequently to reflect changes in Logan’s noise environment, and is now preparing a map based on 2024 data.
As of 2022, about 350 Winthrop homes were eligible for the soundproofing.