Starting Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation will close the Kona airport for 15 consecutive nights to conduct runway repairs.
The DOT will conduct asphalt repairs along Runway 17-35 at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, specifically where planes perform turnaround motions. This is a proactive measure, according to the state.
The airport will be closed from Feb. 13 to 27 between midnight and 6 a.m.
The department said there are no commercial flights scheduled during the closure period, but passengers are advised to check with their airlines for information specific to their flights.
On Tuesday morning, the runway did not open as planned at 6 a.m. due to equipment malfunction and asphalt cooling, the department said.
Officials estimated the runway would reopen at noon. Passengers were encouraged to check their flights before going to the airport. It did not reopen until about 2 p.m.
"We will regroup with the contractor before any nightly repairs continue," the DOT said in a statement Tuesday.
In the case of an emergency during closed hours, a helicopter service out of the airport will be available for medical evacuations.
Additionally, a rehabilitation project is expected to start in August.
In January, an 8-inch long crack was first discovered on the runway.
Crews monitored the crack, but by the afternoon, it turned into a 3-foot hole in the middle of the runway. Due to the acceleration of degradation and concerns that other parts of the runway could also degrade, officials made the call to shut down airport operations.
All passenger and cargo flights were canceled and the airport remained closed overnight while contractors repaired and resurfaced about 100 square feet of the runway.
