Improvements to the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport runway will make it safer and more reliable for travelers, a university spokesperson said.

In 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated that Pullman airport redesign their runway with greater separation between the runway and taxiway, WSU Vice President of Marketing and Communications Phil Weiler said.

Pullman Airport Administrative Assistant Cherri Gentry said airport improvements will also include Instrument Landing Systems, which will allow planes to have easier access for landing in harsh weather conditions and fewer cancelled flights.

The realignment project broke ground in July 2016 and is predicted to be completed by Oct. 10, 2019 with an overall cost of $119 million, Gentry said.

The project will be affecting a number of facilities located around the airport including USDA research, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Tukey Orchard and animal support facilities for the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.

WSU will relocate impacted facilities to Tula Young Hastings Farm and Tukey Orchard projects to Spillman Farm. WSU currently owns both new locations, according to the budget approval documents.

The project design is scheduled to be completed in February, with construction concluding at the end of the year.

All relocations and improvements will be funded by the sale of the university’s properties to the Pullman airport for $14.7 million, which is equivalent to the total construction cost, Weiler said.