RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – Rutland’s airport is back open after runway upgrades had it closed for nearly two months.
VTRANS said the runway at Rutland Regional Airport was closed for seven weeks for renovations, including paving and new runway LED lights. it was all part of the FAA’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Christopher Beitzel, the airport operations manager with VTRANS, said they also added a new Engineered Material Arresting System, or EMAS, a safety feature for airports with shorter runways. It is the first of its kind in the state.
“It’s great, it’s kind of a unique system that airports like in Rutland, in Vermont, and in the mountainous terrain, and the change of elevation, the EMAS or Engineered Material Arresting system is kind of specialized for airports like us,” said Beitzel.
Beitzel said soon, the airport is expected to close at night for two weeks so VTRANS can repaint reflective markings on the runway.