#YYT construction: Main runway to close for 5 months

The temporary closure of the main runway at St. John's International Airport for repairs may impact travel, the airport authority warns.

The runway itself will be repaved while new lighting and navigational equipment will be installed over afive-month period.

The 8,500 foot runway will be shut down between June and November.

It warns travellers that some flights will be affected while the runway is closed, during certain weather conditions.

"Thistemporary inconvenience for travellers is an unavoidable byproduct of completing the significantrunway upgrades that will ensure increased Airport access and reliability for decades to come," a news release stated.

Once construction is completed, Navigation Canada will be ready to finish work on the airport's new instrument landing system.

When it's put into operation next year, the airport authority saidplanes will be better able to land and take off in low visibility situations, such as foggy days.

Work is alsocontinuing on an expansion ofthe passenger terminal.

The first phase of the airport terminal building's expansion is expected to be finished by early 2018, with the entire project set to be completed in 2021.

The authority said$50-million dollars is being spent on improvements this year.