Bangor airport in Maine to close its runways repeatedly over next 3 weeks for paving

Air service at the Bangor International airport will be unavailable for extended periods over the next three weeks, due to a large runway paving project.

The airport said that it will fully close its runways from 8 a.m. Monday until 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Similar weekly closures will continue for the next two weeks, with no air service available during each shutdown.

A spokesperson said the airport also won't be able to handle emergency landings, but that officials have communicated with organizations such as LifeFlight to send planes to alternative locations for medical emergencies.

The airport said the closures are a necessary part of a $45 million project to mill and overlay pavement across the entire runway, which stretches more than 11,000 feet.

The airport expects to complete the project by next year.

This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by Maine Public.