SFO runway repairs to be completed tonight

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGO) -- For the last 11 days, thousands of people have been stressed and frustrated over delayed and canceled flights at SFO. The travel issues were due to a repaving and painting project on the airport's busiest runway. However, delays and cancellations had significantly decreased by Thursday morning.

"We prepared for contingencies that ultimately were not required," Doug Yakel, SFO spokesman, said.

The construction work will wrap up a whole week ahead of schedule. Airport officials said crews worked 24 hours a day to create a new base layer for runway 28L. The previous base layer hadn't been touched since the 1960s and was showing signs of fatigue cracking.

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"The communication was amazing and just getting the text alerts," Jasmine Virk, a traveler said. "Letting us know to get our ride a little bit earlier.'

This week, passengers prepared for the worst. Devan Krishnamoorthi moved his flight up two hours to make sure he didn't miss his domestic connection to India.

"I had to call in and change my flight and of course United was kind enough to say, 'Hey you were impacted by the construction so there won't be a change fee.'"

When the airport put the project together, they took the approach of hope for the best and plan for the worst.

"We don't see the need to do this type of work anywhere else on our runway structure system," Yake; said. "Essentially, what we revert back to now is the periodic maintenance that we've been doing over the decades."

SFO officials plan to have the construction completed and cleared by 9 p.m. Thursday.

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