OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Building History

In the summer of 1995, the Federal Administration Agency (FAA) and the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) decided to build a third runway (up to 8,500-foot long) for the Sea-Tac International Airport. A year before, efforts to find a new site failed amidst opposition from potential neighbors. The airport's administrative body, the Port of Seattle, had spent spent $174 million between 1992-mid-1995 to upgrade concourses and expand retail spaces, another factor to keep the same site and to approve the third runway expansion. According to a New York Times story published on 05/10/1995: "The Federal Aviation Administration has said that even without a new runway, economic benefits from increasing activity at the airport would create 110,000 new aviation-related jobs, $17 billion in added business revenue each year and an increase of more than $400 million a year in state and local tax revenues over 25 years." (See Harriet King, "Real Estate; Hotel construction is planned as part of growth at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport," New York Times, 05/10/1995, p. D18.) The probability of skyrocketing passenger rates and the potential for added revenue and jobs convinced the FAA, PSRC and the Port of Seattle to build the runway, despite considerable opposition. In 1998, the Port of Seattle bought the 234-unit Lake Lora Apartments, for the purpose of demolishing them to build a third runway for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. King County chose to lease the housing for low-income residents, until the Port absolutely needed the land for runway construction. This occurred in 2007, and a controversy erupted when residents were finally asked to leave. On 09/25/2008, a test of an Alaska Airlines 737 was made on the Sea-Tac third runway, the first time the $1.2 billion, 8,500-foot airstrip was used. It was scheduled to go into operation on 11/29/2008 after 15 years of planning and controversy. A public open House was held at the Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church for the runway on 09/25/2008. (HistoryLink indicated that the Third Runway went into operation on 11/20/2008. See "Port of Seattle Commission adopts Sea-Tac International Airport's Master Plan Update, including a third runway and enhanced noise criteria, on August 1, 1996,"Accessed 10/30/2009.)

Building Notes

Clean Water Compliance services, a 50-person, Lynnwood, WA-based company, was awarded a $6.75 million contract to clean storm water during the construction of the third runway.

This concrete runway is known as "16R/34L," and was 8,500 feet long.

PCAD id: 8760