The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport plans to repave its runway in 2026, requiring the airport to close down for two weekends.
The project aims to repave 6,500 feet of its only runway, named Runway 4/22, and completely repave the runway’s shoulders. Officials from the airport say that the runway is due for this maintenance, and that pushing it off further could cause the project to require more time and money.
“This runway, just like highways, needs periodic maintenance to function effectively,” said Tom Tyra, Vice President of GSP Airport. “The normal lifespan, particularly in airport asphalt, requires repaving about every 15 to 20 years, and it's been about 17 years since we last did paving on the runway.”
Tyra noted that the shoulders of the runway, which do not bear any weight of the plane, have not been repaved in nearly 30 years. Due to this, the shoulders are being repaved along the whole distance of the runway — 11,001 feet. The airport will also repave the runway safety areas and repaint all runway markings.
The repaving process will occur in three phases in 2026. These are the phases, as outlined by airport officials:
Phase One: Late July – Early September 2026
Three months of night work, with runway closures from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Projected dates are July 27-Sept. 4.
Phase Two: Sept. 11-13, 2026, and Sept. 18-20, 2026
Two 72-hour closures, occurring on two weekends in September 2026. All airport operations will be suspended for these 72-hour periods.
Phase Three: Late September – Mid-November 2026
Three months of night work, with runway closures from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Projected dates are Sept. 14-Nov. 12.
Since Runway 4/22 is the only runway at GSP Airport, complete closures are unavoidable when the runway is down. Tyra says that the airport analyzed travel patterns and determined that these dates and times would cause the least amount of disruption to its operations.
“This will give us plenty of time to throw a lot of manpower, a lot of labor [and] a lot of equipment at this project and completely get the work done,” Tyra said. “... We're going to make sure that we take this through and [that] we'll be done with it for another 17 to 20 years.”
The runway repaving in 2026 is just the most recent development at GSP Airport. Just last year, the airport completed an $18.5 million project on its curb front, allowing more space for airport drop-offs. This year, the airport invested $2.6 million in new airport seating and added two new passenger boarding bridges.
Currently, the airport is working on a $97 million garage and rental car facility, which it expects to be fully operational by December of this year. In September, the airport’s executive board approved the design for a new 130,000 square foot cargo facility, emphasizing the airport’s commitment to international trade. GSP Airport is the 23rd largest airport in the United States based on international trade volume.
“We want to make sure that we are there when the opportunities present themselves,” Tyra said.
Tyra noted that the airport’s recent emphasis on improvement projects stems from the rapid growth of the Upstate area. Last year, the airport set a record of 2.9 million passengers, with a projected growth rate of 5% per year.
“With all of these passengers moving through the airport, and all of these people moving to the Upstate, it was very important that GSP take a proactive approach to how we make sure that our infrastructure and facilities meet the demands of the future,” Tyra said.
To learn more about the airport’s 2026 runway repaving project, visit GSPAirport.com/TRIP. For more information about GSP Airport, visit their website.
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