(KNOX) –The Grand Forks Air Force Base runway is now fully operational again. The Public Affairs office for the 319th Reconnaissance Wing says the runway opened back up September 9th, and that the RQ-4 Global Hawk fleet will be returning at a date that is to be determined.
The construction on the runway cost $20.4 million, where the project replaced 10,270 feet of the original runway’s surface. The project started in May, and the Global Hawks were temporarily relocated to Robins Air Force Base, which is located near Macon, Georgia. The 348th Reconnaissance Squadron continues to operate aircrafts remotely from Grand Forks, and the unmanned aircraft are being operated off-site.
The new runway should last for at least 20 years if it is treated with proper care. The last runway was only supposed to last up to 10 years when it was first built in 2005, but it lasted for 21 years as crack seals were being managed. The groove edges of the old runway started to become rounded. This affected aircrafts’ ability to brake quickly when the runway was wet.
The base’s runway will also be used by defense contractors like General Atomics and Northrop Grumman. Both of these contractors have offices at the GrandSky aviation park.
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