Missoula Airport Runway Resurfacing and Airfield Improvements

The Challenge

MSO required significant maintenance of its 9,500 ft. runway and airfield upgrades to extend its life and prepare for future growth. However, as the state’s second-busiest airport serving more than 1,000,000 passengers annually, an extended shutdown for construction was a significant barrier and had the potential to negatively impact the Missoula community and economy.

Project partners created a plan to minimize disruptions while completing the necessary improvements.

Creating Solutions

Working together with airport leadership, contractors, and FAA representatives, Morrison-Maierle designed a multi-phase program of improvements that culminated in a continuous 127-hour runway closure. The overall project scope included:

• Runway resurfacing – composite paving fabric to mitigate reflective cracking and over 45,000 tons of asphalt overlay to improve the pavement strength and safety of the runway.
• Taxiway improvements – profile milling and new pavement to enhance drainage and pavement strength for improved aircraft safety and pavement longevity.
• Airfield lighting and electrical systems – installation of energy-efficient LED runway and taxiway lighting, new guidance signage, and over 60,000 linear feet of upgraded cabling for improved performance and sustainability.
• Building and landside enhancements – building and landside improvements to accommodate future passenger and operational demands.

The first phase focused on updating the MALSR and repaving the blast pad for the approach to runway 12. This work occurred while the airport was still fully operational. Phase 2 occurred within the 127-hour runway closure and included shoulder repaving and grading, runway resurfacing, runway striping, connector taxiway transition paving, and installation of new LED navigational lights. Later phases will include grooving the runway, application of thermoplastic pavement markings, a new generator for airfield lighting, upgrading connector TW lights to LED, and final paint striping.

Building Better Communities

Through coordinated scheduling, around-the-clock construction, and carefully sequenced phasing, the project was successfully delivered within the closure period. The resurfaced runway provides a safer, more reliable surface for commercial and general aviation operations. The enhanced taxiway connections and LED lighting improve the operational efficiency and sustainability of the airfield while lowering long-term maintenance and energy costs. All together, these facility upgrades position MSO for continued long-term growth.

For the community, this project ensures uninterrupted air service reliability and supports MSO’s role as a critical transportation and economic hub for western Montana.

The successful completion demonstrates Morrison-Maierle’s ability to deliver technically complex solutions under challenging constraints—on time and on budget—that meet both the immediate needs of the flying public and the long-term goals of the Missoula Montana Airport.

Learn more about our Airports work.