DIA lands 6th runway

Runway assures efficiency, access to new international routes

Denver International Airport’s (DIA) sixth runway was put into service in September 2003, making one of the nation’s most efficient airports even better. The new runway is 16,000 feet long (4,870 meters) and 200 feet wide, making it the longest commercial runway in North America. It is also 4,000 feet longer than any of DIA’s other runways, which are all 12,000 feet (3,580 meters) in length.

This extra distance gives fully loaded jumbo jets additional length to take off in Denver’s altitude during summer months, thereby providing unrestricted access from Metro Denver to destinations around the world. The new runway is also able to accommodate the new generation of massive airlines, including the Airbus A-380.

In addition, the runway balances DIA’s airfield. During normal weather conditions, aircraft is able to depart using the two north/south runways on the west side of the airfield and arrive using the two north/south runways on the east side of the airfield. This makes for short aircraft taxis and quick turnarounds which improve the efficiency for airlines operating at DIA.

The runway was constructed at a cost of $166 million; three-quarters of which was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is estimated that the new runway will save the national aviation system an estimated $1 billion over the life of the runway.

Sixth Runway Profile

• The runway structure is approximately nine feet thick, consisting of (bottom to top) six feet of select subgrade, 12 inches of lime-treated subgrade, eight inches of cement-treated base and 17 inches of concrete.
  
• The runway project required moving 216 million cubic feet of dirt.
  
• The 900,000 square yards of 17-inch-thick concrete required for the runway is enough to build a sidewalk from Denver to New York City.
  
• The project required 300 miles of electrical cable and 100 miles of PVC pipe.
  
• Due to the curvature of the earth, a person standing at one end of the runway cannot see an aircraft getting ready for takeoff at the other end.
  
• The 34L/16R designation derives from the runway’s north/south compass points; it is paired with the existing 34R/16L, and it is DIA’s fourth north/south runway.
  
  

Additional information on Denver International Airport, including fact sheets, carriers, rankings, and flight statistics, can be found in the Transportation & Infrastructure section.