Residents fear new O'Hare runway to increase noise

Some residents around Chicago's O'Hare International Airport who are already concerned about the noise levels are worried about the impact of a new runway expected to open this week.

The runway opens Thursday. The Chicago Sun-Times reports arrivals at another nearby terminal will jump by more than 50 percent. That's according to an analysis of city data predictions.

Concerned residents include Don Walsh, a retired city deputy fire commissioner. He says the levels are already “obnoxious” and he's dreading the new runway.

Two Illinois congressmen have asked federal and city officials to re-evaluate noise levels.

The runway is part of O'Hare's Modernization Plan. The idea is to reduce the number of crisscrossing runways for new parallel ones. The hope is that it will decrease delays at the airport.