Lincoln runway renovation
Lincoln Airport's 12,901-foot runway project progresses, focused on essential maintenance.
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Crews at Lincoln Airport are tearing apart one of the longest runways in America. The 12,901-foot Runway 18/36 — nearly 2.5 miles of Cold War-era concrete — is being rebuilt from the ground up in a $100 million project that officials say will secure the airport's future for the next 50 years, according to Columbus Telegram.
Project engineer Dan Green described the work as essential "maintenance." But the scale tells a bigger story. Crews are pulling out all the old pavement down to bare dirt, then rebuilding with 15 inches of new concrete — thick enough to handle military aircraft weighing nearly 325,000 pounds.
A Cold War Runway Built for Bombers, Not Boeing
Runway 18/36 was not built for regional jets. It was built for B-47 Stratojet bombers during the Cold War, when Lincoln served as a Strategic Air Command Air Force base. The base closed in 1966, but the runway stayed — and the Nebraska Air National Guard moved in, according to Star Herald.
Today, the 155th Air Refueling Wing flies KC-135R Stratotankers out of Lincoln. Those planes need the full 12,900 feet to take off safely, especially in summer heat when the air is thin. Major General Craig Strong said the runway's "extreme length" gives the military critical "global mobility." The runway also serves as a backup strip for Offutt Air Force Base when that base's runway is closed.
Pavement Pushed Past Its Limits After Decades of Patching
The runway was last fully repaved in 1991 — 35 years ago. A major patching effort in 2014 bought some extra time, but officials say the concrete was crumbling. Chad Lay, Director of Development at Lincoln Airport, said the runway had "really reached the end of its useful life" after those patches ran out, according to Beatrice Daily Sun.
Crumbling pavement creates FOD — Foreign Object Debris — chunks of concrete that jet engines can suck in and destroy. The maintenance costs were climbing every year. Officials decided it was cheaper to rebuild everything than keep patching. Construction started in January 2026. The project is expected to finish in fall 2027.
Federal Dollars Flow In, Military Picks Up Half the Tab
The FAA typically pays 90% of eligible runway projects. But this runway is longer and thicker than a standard commercial strip — and that extra cost is on someone else's tab. The National Guard Bureau is covering nearly 50% of the total cost to account for the military-grade length and thickness, according to Wahoo-Ashland-Waverly.
Senator Deb Fischer secured the National Guard Bureau's commitment back in August 2022, framing the runway as a national security asset. The FAA added a $41 million grant in September 2025. The winning construction bid from Constructors Inc. came in at $85 million — well below the original $100 million estimate.
Airport Stays Open, but Smaller Runway Takes Over for Now
Lincoln Airport is not closed during construction. Commercial flights from United and American Airlines are using Runway 14/32, which is 8,640 feet long — enough for regional jets. But that runway lacks a Category I Instrument Landing System, which helps planes land safely in bad weather. Delays are possible during storms, according to Fremont Tribune.
Rachel Barth, the airport's marketing director, called the runway "one of Nebraska's most important pieces of transportation infrastructure." The airport contributes an estimated $100 million a year to the local economy and supports 568 jobs. Officials say losing the runway's length would have risked pushing the 155th Air Refueling Wing out of Lincoln entirely — a hit the region could not afford.
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