Rehabilitating America’s Busiest Runway Without Disrupting Airport Operations at DCA

Runway 1‑19 at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the busiest runway in the United States. To maintain safe and efficient operations at this critical airfield, the $94.4 million Runways 1‑19 & 15‑33 Pavement and Lighting Replacement project delivered major upgrades with minimal disruption.

CMT led a large, multidisciplinary team in designing and executing a full rehabilitation of Runways 1‑19 and 15‑33, associated taxiways, and airfield lighting systems. All work was conducted during tightly controlled overnight shutdowns between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., allowing the airport to return to full operational status each morning. Through innovative phasing, logistics planning, and engineering strategies, the team redefined what could be accomplished during a seven‑hour closure period.

This multi‑year effort modernized critical pavement and lighting infrastructure while keeping one of the nation’s most operationally constrained airports functioning at full capacity. Close collaboration among the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, commercial airlines, construction partners, and airport stakeholders made it possible to complete complex work in an exceptionally limited timeframe. This strengthened long-term performance and supported the airport’s essential role for travelers and the region.