The Toronto Port Authority is making it clear that construction underway at Billy Bishop Airport is unrelated to a massive runway expansion project proposed by Ontario’s premier.
In an online statement, the authority said The Toronto Port Authority will begin construction of two new Runway End Safety Areas (RESAs) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. They are designed to provide an additional margin of safety in the unlikely event that an aircraft travels beyond the runway, helping to reduce the severity of potential aircraft damage and enhancing safety for passengers and crew.
“The project does not extend the active runway, facilitate the use of new aircraft, increase airport operations, or alter the existing Marine Exclusion Zone,” it said.
Construction will continue into the fall, bringing the Toronto Island airport into compliance with existing federal regulations requiring a 150-metre buffer zone.
The authority said most work will take place overnight to limit disruptions, with the majority of construction personnel, equipment and materials being transported by barge from staging areas in the Port Lands rather than by road.
“The project also includes extensive mitigation measures related to lighting, noise, vibration, air quality, dust management, traffic operations and marine navigation, with ongoing environmental monitoring and reporting throughout construction,” the port authority said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has long pushed for runway expansion and jet traffic at Billy Bishop Airport, and in recent weeks, his government passed legislation allowing for a hostile takeover of the city’s stake in the tripartite agreement that governs the airport.
However, his plans have proved controversial, with residents and civic officials raising concerns over the impact on air quality, noise pollution and wildlife.
The proposed expansion, which Open Jaw has reported on extensively, would see 10 million passengers pass through the airport annually, a significant jump from the two million passengers it currently serves.
After months of public debate, civic disagreements and protests, Ottawa launched public consultations on the future of the airport, but that too has proved to be controversial, with many of the project's opponents describing the survey questions as “skewed.”
