People driving on Plaza Street in northern Albert Lea probably have noticed some major construction taking place on both sides of the roadway.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke wanted to remind people that this construction is part of the airport runway expansion.

To allow for adequate approach clearances and runway safety areas of the longer runway planned for the airport, Plaza Street is being relocated farther north. The construction of the new street should be complete in the spring of 2009, Jahnke said.

Currently, crews are stockpiling extra dirt to make the runway, and Plaza Street is being reconstructed.

According to the prelimary evaluation report about the Plaza Street relocation, it states the Albert Lea Municipal Airport’s primary runway is 4,501 feet long and 100 feet wide. In the 2003 master plan update for the airport, it was determined this length was inadequate to accommodate the airport’s current and projected fleet.

“Many of the aircraft that use the runway are required to either depart with a restricted fuel or passenger load due to the inadequate runway length,” the report said.

Thus, the project was designed for a paved bituminous or concrete runway that is 5,000 feet long and 100 feet wide to serve the performance of aircraft using the runway. It will run parallel to the existing runway and will be offset a distance of 400 feet west from the existing runway.

There will be grading, drainage and paving work done, along with new edge lighting and new airfield signage.

The runway is expected to be completed over the course of three years, with construction beginning in the spring of 2009, the report stated.

Plaza Street, which extends from County State Aid Highway 20 to Bridge Avenue for a distance of about 1.5 miles, crosses over Bancroft Creek.

The project also includes building a new bridge over the relocated Plaza Street.

Federal funding will be available for the project.