EXPECT DELAYS: Owl Creek Road Traffic Begins the Week of July 27

The first phase of construction for the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Modernization Project will begin the week of July 27, with early project work to prepare the site for the airport’s 2027 runway reconstruction. Motorists traveling on Owl Creek Road should expect alternating single-lane traffic and brief delays through the construction area. Electronic message boards will be installed the week of July 13 to notify travelers of the upcoming traffic changes.

Construction activities and associated traffic impacts are expected to continue through October 2026.

Travel Impacts

• Alternating single-lane traffic on Owl Creek Road beginning the week of July 27.
• Brief travel delays are expected throughout construction.
• The Owl Creek Trail will remain open; however, users should use caution around construction equipment.
• Electronic message boards will be installed the week of July 13 to provide advance notice of traffic changes.
• Traffic impacts are expected through October 2026.

Project Benefits

This early project work prepares the site for the airport’s 2027 runway reconstruction and helps keep the Airport Modernization Project on schedule. Work includes realigning Owl Creek Road to accommodate the future runway alignment, relocating utilities, extending the Owl Creek culvert, shifting the Airport Operations Center parking lot, and establishing temporary construction access and staging areas that will support runway reconstruction during the airport’s temporary closure in 2027.

Project Information

For more information about the Airport Modernization Project, visit aspenairport.com/modernization or sign up to receive Frequent Flyer Updates for the latest construction news, traffic advisories, and project milestones.

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) has announced the schedule for its temporary closure to complete the runway reconstruction phase of the Airport Modernization Project. The airport will close to all aircraft operations beginning Sunday, April 4, 2027, at 11:00 p.m., and is scheduled to reopen Friday, November 19, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. To read the press release, click here.

What This Means

• The airport will be closed to all commercial and general aviation operations from 11:00 p.m. on April 4, 2027, through 7:00 p.m. on November 19, 2027.
• During the closure, crews will reconstruct and shift the runway to meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards.

Why It Matters

The runway reconstruction is one of the most significant components of the Airport Modernization Project and is essential to improving airfield safety and bringing the airport into compliance with current FAA design standards. Establishing the closure schedule now provides certainty for long-term planning while allowing project teams to continue coordinating transportation, business continuity, and community outreach efforts ahead of 2027.

Project Information

For more information about the Airport Modernization Project, visit aspenairport.com/modernization or sign up to receive Frequent Flyer Updates for the latest construction news, traffic advisories, and project milestones.

Pitkin County has selected Kiewit Infrastructure as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) Runway Reconstruction Project. The selection marks a significant milestone as the Airport Modernization Project advances toward the 2027 runway reconstruction.

As CMAR, Kiewit will work alongside the airport, project management team, and design consultants during the design phase to support planning, refine construction sequencing, develop project pricing, and prepare for construction. This collaborative approach helps ensure the project remains on schedule ahead of the airport’s temporary closure.

What This Means

• Kiewit Infrastructure will partner with the project team throughout design and preconstruction planning.
• The contractor will provide input on construction sequencing, scheduling, cost estimating, and logistics before construction begins.
• Early collaboration helps prepare for the 2027 runway reconstruction and supports the project’s overall schedule.

Why It Matters

Selecting a CMAR early in the process allows the project team to finalize planning and coordinate construction activities well before the 2027 runway reconstruction. This milestone represents another step forward in delivering the Airport Modernization Project and preparing for the airport’s temporary closure to reconstruct and shift the runway to meet current FAA design standards.

Project Information

For more information about the Airport Modernization Project, visit aspenairport.com/modernization or sign up to receive Frequent Flyer Updates for the latest construction news, traffic advisories, and project milestones.