Billy Bishop runway construction starts mid-July
Two safety buffer zones required by federal deadline will be built mostly overnight to minimize airport and harbour disruption.
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Construction crews at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will begin building new runway end safety areas mid-July, with work continuing on and off through the end of 2027.
Under federal regulations, at least 150 metres of safety buffer must be added at each end of the main runway to protect aircraft in case of overshoots or undershoots. These additions must be level with the existing runway and in place by July 12, 2027. The Toronto Port Authority issued a construction notice confirming the work will include new turf and grooved asphalt areas, extended airside perimeter roads, and breakwater structures.
Most work will happen overnight, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday to Saturday, to minimize impacts on airport operations and daytime marine activity in the inner harbour. Construction equipment, materials, and crews will move via barges from staging areas in the Port Lands; no construction traffic will use Eireann Quay or the Billy Bishop ferry.
The project includes extensive mitigation measures for lighting, noise, vibration, air quality, and dust management, with ongoing environmental monitoring and reporting. Formal approval came from Toronto city council in late 2024, which also extended the airport's lease until 2045.
