Longer runway approved for Fort Lauderdale airport
Broward County Commissioners early today approved a controversial proposal to build a second major runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The commissioners, in a post-midnight vote that followed more than six hours of heated discussions, voted 6-3 for a proposal to build a new, 8,000-foot runway that will cost $694 million. The runway is slated to be built south of the airport terminals, where a much smaller runway for commuter flights is located. The main runway for full-sized jets is on the north side of the main airport building.
Opponents of the new runway have waged a battle against expansion for more than a decade, claiming the new runway would cause environmental damage and increase aircraft noise for residents living south of the airport. The main runway at the airport runs parallel to Interstate 595, while the second runway would run parallel to Griffin Road, an arterial road that sees much less traffic.
Commissioners in favor of the new runway say it would decrease flight delays caused by congestion and would allow the airport to handle more business, to the benefit of Broward County as a whole.
'I think it is critically important that the county look at its future and move ahead,' said Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion.
Longer runway approved for Fort Lauderdale airport
