Runways At Lambert Airport: How Many Take Off?

St. Louis Lambert International Airport has four runways. The airport's fourth runway was opened in 2006, costing \$1.1 billion and was the costliest public works program in St. Louis history. The project included the relocation of Lindbergh Boulevard, a principal roadway carrying 45,000 vehicles a day, by routing it through a tunnel. The runway is 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide with two parallel taxiways.

Lambert Airport's fourth runway was opened in 2006

The fourth runway at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport was opened on April 13, 2006, with American Airlines Flight 2470 becoming the first commercial airliner to land on it. The runway's opening was the culmination of the W-1W airport expansion, which had been ongoing for eight years and was the largest capital improvement project in St. Louis history. The expansion added the airport's first new runway in 50 years, at a cost of $1.1 billion, and was one of the most controversial projects in St. Louis history.

The new runway was built to prevent Lambert, once the primary connecting hub for Trans World Airlines, from becoming an air-traffic bottleneck during bad weather. The two existing parallel runways were too close together to be used during instrument-only landings, which were required around 14% of the time. This meant that, during poor weather, Lambert was effectively reduced to a one-runway airport, causing aircraft to circle in the sky or queue on the tarmac, which was costly for airlines.

The new runway was 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, with two parallel taxiways. It was built alongside a new traffic tunnel for Lindbergh Boulevard, the first and only one of its kind in Missouri. The tunnel allowed the runway to have uninterrupted length, while traffic could pass underneath.

Despite the benefits of the new runway, not everyone was happy about its construction. The expansion required the destruction of around 2,000 properties, including over 1,900 homes, six churches, and four schools. Many of those who lost their homes in the buyout criticised the project as a waste of money and the destruction of viable neighbourhoods.

In the years following the runway's opening, it did not see much use, with critics arguing that it was unnecessary. However, Lambert officials maintained that the runway was a valuable long-term investment, reducing delays and helping to market the airport.

The runway cost \$1.1 billion

The runway cost $1.1 billion

The fourth runway at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, dubbed Runway 11/29, was a $1.1 billion project—the costliest public works program in the history of St. Louis. The runway is 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, with two parallel taxiways.

The project was first conceived in 1992, when a master plan indicated that more runway space would be needed in the future. After looking at 30 different configurations, the W-1-W alternative was recommended and approved by the FAA in 1998. Construction began in 2001, and the runway was completed in 2006.

The runway was built to prevent Lambert—once the primary hub for Trans World Airlines—from becoming an air-traffic bottleneck during bad weather. When weather conditions required instrument-only landing, the airport's two main runways were too close together to be used simultaneously, reducing the airport to a single runway and causing aircraft to circle in the sky or wait on the tarmac.

The project required the relocation of Lindbergh Boulevard, a principal roadway carrying 45,000 vehicles a day, by routing it through a tunnel under the new runway and taxiways. The project also involved the realignment of seven major roads, $20 million in utility relocations, and the purchase and demolition of about 2,000 homes, six churches, and four schools.

Despite the benefits of the new runway, it has been controversial. Opponents questioned the need for another runway, especially after TWA was absorbed by American Airlines and the latter faced financial troubles and cut its schedule. The runway has also been underutilised, handling fewer than one in ten takeoffs and landings in its early years. However, usage has increased over time as airlines and air traffic controllers became more familiar with it, and it has been valuable in reducing operational delays during bad weather.

It is 9,000 feet long

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the primary airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri. The airport has four runways, three parallel and one crosswind. The crosswind runway, 6/24, is the shortest of the four at 7,607 feet (2,319 m). The newest runway, Runway 11/29, is 9,000 feet long.

Runway 11/29 was completed in 2006 as part of a large expansion program. The $1.1 billion project was the costliest public works program in St. Louis history. The runway was built to prevent Lambert, once the primary connecting hub for Trans World Airlines, from becoming an air-traffic bottleneck during bad weather. The construction of the runway required the relocation of Lindbergh Boulevard, a principal roadway carrying 45,000 vehicles a day, by routing it through a tunnel. The runway also required the destruction of about 2,000 homes, six churches, and four schools in Bridgeton, Missouri.

The 9,000-foot runway is longer than the crosswind runway, 6/24, which is 7,607 feet long. The extra length of Runway 11/29 allows for larger aircraft to take off and land, increasing the capacity of the airport. The runway is also wide enough to accommodate two parallel taxiways, providing efficient ground movement for aircraft.

The construction of Runway 11/29 involved extensive planning and coordination to manage the impact on the surrounding community and environment. The project included realigning seven major roads, completing $20 million in utility relocations, and implementing safety measures such as a snow-melting system at the terminal. The runway and taxiways are equipped with lighting systems, with nearly 75 miles of wiring and 62 miles of duct banks carrying utility wires and piping underground.

The 9,000-foot runway at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport enhances the airport's capacity and efficiency, enabling it to accommodate larger aircraft and handle a higher volume of air traffic. The runway's length and width provide the necessary space for takeoffs and landings, while the parallel taxiways facilitate ground movement. The construction of this runway involved significant planning and coordination to manage its impact on the surrounding community and environment.

It was built to prevent air-traffic bottlenecks in bad weather

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the primary international airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The airport is commonly referred to as Lambert Field or simply Lambert, and it is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Missouri.

Lambert Airport has four runways: three parallel and one crosswind. The crosswind runway, 6/24, is the shortest of the four at 7,607 feet (2,319 m). The newest runway is 11/29, which was completed in 2006 as part of a large expansion program. The other runways are 11,020 feet (3,360 m), 9,013 feet (2,747 m), and 9,000 feet (2,700 m) long.

The $1.1 billion expansion project, which included the construction of Runway 11/29, was the costliest public works program in St. Louis history. The project aimed to address the issue of air traffic bottlenecks during bad weather, which had previously reduced the number of usable runways from three to one. With the addition of Runway 11/29, the airport now has the capacity to handle more flights and improve efficiency, even during poor weather conditions.

The expansion project also included the relocation of Lindbergh Boulevard, a principal roadway carrying 45,000 vehicles per day, by routing it through a tunnel under the new runway and taxiways. This tunnel, known as the Lindbergh Tunnel, cost $40 million to construct and was built using cut-and-cover construction techniques.

The expansion of Lambert Airport faced opposition from residents and community groups, who criticized the project as "airpork" and the destruction of viable neighborhoods. The construction of Runway 11/29 resulted in the acquisition and demolition of approximately 2,000 properties, including homes, churches, and schools. Despite the controversy, the expansion was carried out, and the runway opened in April 2006, with American Airlines Flight 2470 becoming the first commercial airliner to land on it.

The runway is underused

The St. Louis Lambert International Airport, commonly referred to as Lambert Field or simply Lambert, has four runways, three parallel and one crosswind. The crosswind runway, 6/24, is the shortest of the four at 7,607 feet (2,319 m). The newest runway is 11/29, completed in 2006 as part of a large expansion program. The runway is 9,000 feet (2,743 m) long and 150 feet (45.7 m) wide with two parallel taxiways.

Despite being one of the largest expansion projects in the history of Missouri, the runway has been underutilised. In the first seven months of 2006, the year it opened, the runway's rate of use was about 4%. By 2024, the runway handled fewer than one out of every ten takeoffs and landings through July 26. This is partly because the runway is farther from the terminals than the older runways, and also because of the layout of the Lambert airport. Southwest Airlines, for example, is more likely to use the two main runways closer to the East Terminal, where it is located.

The runway was built to prevent Lambert, once the primary connecting hub for Trans World Airlines, from becoming an air-traffic bottleneck during bad weather. However, takeoffs and landings fell sharply when American Airlines slashed its St. Louis schedule in 2003. Traffic began to rebound slightly but stalled again when the airline industry was hit by the 2008 fuel increases and the global financial crisis.

Despite the underuse, Lambert officials insist that the runway remains a valuable long-term investment for the airport because it cuts down on operational delays. It is also a selling point for marketing the airport to other airlines.

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