Midway to close runway in next round of repairs

Midway International Airport's busiest runway will undergo an extensive, 56-hour restoration project next week after aviation officials decided to redo nearly 130 epoxy patches that were installed in April.

The patches were applied to repair holes on the airport's Runway 31 Center during maintenance in April.

Since then, the epoxy patches broke twice, leaving holes on the 6,522-foot runway.

The runway will be shut down Sept. 10 and reopen Sept. 13. The repairs were scheduled on a Tuesday and Wednesday, when travel volume is typically at its lowest.

In July, one section of the newly repaired material patch gave way during a jetliner takeoff, leaving a shallow, 4-foot hole in the 15-year-old concrete runway.

No injuries were reported in that incident, but a tire on a plane that landed after the patch gave way was damaged.

Another faulty patch was reported Aug. 20.

Both holes have been repaired and now authorities are investigating what caused the epoxy to give way. The patches are being replaced as a safety precaution.

"The primary source seems to be issues with the installation," said Erin O'Donnell, the city's managing deputy aviation commissioner at Midway. "When the patches are removed we will be able to see more."