3 November 2025

NORTH BEND, OR — Construction has officially begun on the Runway Safety Area (RSA) expansion project at the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH), following staging activity by West Coast Contractors (WCC). The project—mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—marks a major safety improvement effort that has been years in the making.

The Coos County Airport District (CCAD) and the FAA have long prioritized shoring up and squaring off the northwest RSA of Runway 05/23, a need first identified in the Airport’s 2013 Master Plan and reaffirmed in the FAA’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The design was developed by Ardurra and received FAA approval.

The project was competitively bid, with West Coast Contractors submitting the lowest bid at $3.27 million. The project is funded primarily through federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, with matching contributions from the Airport District.

Runway 05/23 Closures

To safely complete the work, Runway 05/23 will be closed Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for approximately 90 days. The airport’s secondary runway (13/31) will remain open for general aviation operations.

The project also requires the temporary shutdown of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which assists pilots during periods of low visibility. The ILS will remain offline during construction.

Commercial Service Impact

Daily United Express flights to and from San Francisco (SFO) are not expected to be affected by the closure schedule. However, pilots and passengers should note that instrument approach availability may be limited during inclement weather or if a commercial flight is delayed past 4:00 p.m.

Commitment to Safety and Progress

“This project represents years of planning and coordination between the FAA, the Airport District, and our engineering partners,” said Rodger Craddock, Executive Director of the Coos County Airport District. “The work being done will strengthen the safety and resilience of our airfield while supporting continued growth and reliability for the region’s only commercial service airport.”

This is the first time in more than a decade that the airport has had a lengthy closure of this kind. Those closures included another RSA project and an extension of the runway. Work on the Runway Safety Area expansion will continue until February 2026 as part of the airport’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, modern, and compliant infrastructure for all users.

About the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH):
Owned and operated by the Coos County Airport District, OTH is the only commercial service airport on the Oregon Coast, providing daily United Express flights to and from San Francisco (SFO) and seasonal, non-stop flights to and from Denver (DEN). The airport supports general aviation, air cargo, emergency services, and regional economic development across Oregon’s South Coast.