Billy Bishop to begin federally mandated runway safety project this month

Construction will begin in mid-July on two new Runway End Safety Areas (RESAs) at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), marking the start of a federally-mandated safety upgrade that will bring the airport in line with current Canadian and international aviation standards.

In a press release, the Toronto Port Authority said the project follows an environmental assessment completed in 2024 and approval from the City of Toronto in October of that year.

Required by Transport Canada, RESAs are cleared and graded areas located beyond the ends of active runways.

They are designed to provide an additional safety buffer in the unlikely event that an aircraft overruns a runway, helping reduce the severity of potential aircraft damage while enhancing safety for passengers and crew.

The work fulfills Transport Canada's regulations requiring RESAs at eligible airports and aligns Billy Bishop with modern aviation safety standards.

Construction is expected to continue intermittently through the fall of 2027, the port authority said.

To minimize disruption to airport operations and activity around Toronto's Inner Harbour, most work will take place overnight between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Saturday, with site preparation beginning as early as 9 p.m.

The Toronto Port Authority said most workers, equipment and construction materials will be transported by barge from staging areas in the Port Lands, reducing road traffic and avoiding access through Eireann Quay or the airport ferry.

The project also includes measures to mitigate impacts related to noise, lighting, vibration, air quality, dust, traffic and marine navigation. Environmental monitoring and reporting will continue throughout construction.

Airport officials said helicopter medical evacuation (medevac) services will continue without interruption while the work is underway.

The authority also emphasized that the project will not extend Billy Bishop's active runway, enable new aircraft types, increase airport operations or change the existing Marine Exclusion Zone.

According to the project schedule, in-water construction is expected to be completed by early 2027, with the new RESAs becoming operational in July 2027.

Site restoration and habitat enhancement work is scheduled to wrap up in the fall of 2027.

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