Cyril E. King Airport Runway to Close Nightly as VIPA Launches First Major Rehabilitation Since 2012

ST. THOMAS — The V.I. Port Authority will begin nightly closures of the Cyril E. King Airport runway on December 1 as part of a major, multi-phase infrastructure upgrade designed to improve safety, reliability, and long-term operability of the island’s only runway. The work, which will continue through 2026, marks the first major rehabilitation of the 7,002-foot runway since 2012. VIPA announced that the runway will close each night from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., allowing crews uninterrupted access while ensuring regular airport operations are not affected. The agency emphasized that it does not anticipate significant disruptions to air travel, and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the temporary schedule. The first phase begins December 1 with a pavement boring project, a geotechnical investigation designed to evaluate subsurface conditions and support future enhancements. Conducted entirely at night, the work aims to strengthen the runway’s condition and performance without ...