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Transportation

Roanoke Airport Officials Talk of Extending Runway Over I-581

An extended runway would be critical to the Roanoke airport’s long-term survival, according to the agency's executive director.

Henri Gendreau

• 4 min read
An aerial view of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport showing where the current runway runs up against Interstate 581 (bottom right). PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT

It’s not just a rumor. Neither is it a set-in-stone plan.

Roanoke airport officials are exploring what it would take to extend one of the runways over Interstate 581, which an executive says would be critical to the airport’s long-term survival.

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport has kickstarted its 20-year master plan process, which was delayed during Covid and as the airport commission searched for a new top leader.