MSP runway closure (Aug 18–Sept 26) may raise neighborhood noise

(MINNEAPOLIS–SAINT PAUL) Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) has closed its south parallel runway, designated 12R-30L, for a six-week construction project that began August 18, 2025, with reopening planned by September 26, 2025. Airport officials say the work is the second and final phase of safety upgrades required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During the closure, aircraft will shift to other runways, which will change flight paths and raise noise levels for some nearby neighborhoods.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which operates MSP, said the project covers runway safety area grading, drainage and shoulder upgrades, and reconstruction of Taxiway D near Taxiway W. The same runway was closed earlier this year, from April 14 through May 23, to complete the first phase before the busy summer season. It is a 10,000-foot east–west runway on the south side of Terminal 1 and is one of the airport’s most used pieces of pavement. With more than 32 miles of runways and taxiways across the airfield, periodic construction is routine to keep the airport compliant with FAA standards.

Construction scope and schedule

Airport engineers describe the work as essential to safety. The plan focuses on:

• Stabilizing the runway safety area — the ground around the pavement meant to reduce risk if an aircraft overruns or veers off the strip.
• Improving drainage to prevent pooling water.
• Reinforcing shoulders to support aircraft operations.
• Reconstructing a segment of Taxiway D where it meets Taxiway W.

All work ties back to federal specifications. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, tight timing around peak travel seasons is common for runway projects, as operators try to limit disruption for airlines and passengers while meeting federal deadlines.

This late-summer window is the final push. MAC paused the project after the spring closure to keep summer travel moving, then resumed in mid‑August for the remaining tasks. If weather cooperates, the south parallel runway should return to service by September 26, 2025, allowing flight operations to settle back into familiar patterns before the holiday period.

While the airport is not closing any terminals, the airfield layout is compressed during construction, which concentrates takeoffs and landings on the remaining open runways. That compression can increase operational coordination demands for pilots and air traffic control.

Noise and community impact

Shifting flights to other runways often moves noise. Several neighborhoods around MSP will hear changes in where, when, and how often aircraft pass overhead. Some areas that normally experience modest activity could see more traffic, while others may notice less.

MAC has stepped up outreach through:

• Newsletters
• Meetings of the MSP Noise Oversight Committee (NOC)
• Public briefings

The committee tracks patterns and reviews mitigation steps tied to MSP’s federal Consent Decree, which includes residential noise insulation and land-use planning in areas affected by airport noise. The 2023 Annual Noise Contour Report shows continued work within the 60 dB Day‑Night Average Sound Level (DNL) contours, where exposure is measured over a 24‑hour period with extra weight on nighttime activity. These programs will continue as the airport completes the safety upgrades and as flight paths evolve.

The FAA plans to roll out new GPS‑based navigation procedures by the end of 2025 around the Twin Cities airspace. These satellite‑guided routes, also called Performance‑Based Navigation, are designed to make flight paths more precise. That precision may:

• Bring relief to some neighborhoods that currently experience dispersed traffic
• Increase noise for others that sit directly under the new tracks

FAA officials say precision routes can improve safety and efficiency; communities want clear data on who will be affected and when. The FAA’s public overview of Performance‑Based Navigation is available at: https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/programs/pbn.

MAC and the FAA have said they will keep meeting with residents and local leaders as the GPS changes move forward. Public webinars and community meetings will be announced through the agencies’ websites and local news outlets. Airport staff stress that the current runway closure is temporary; the GPS shift is a separate, longer‑term airspace project.

Important: The runway closure is scheduled to end by September 26, 2025, but the GPS‑based airspace changes are a later, separate effort that could further alter flight paths.

What residents can do now

Neighbors who notice increased aircraft noise can contact MAC’s Community Relations Office. The hotline at 612‑726‑9411 is staffed to take questions and record noise complaints.

When you call, please be ready to provide:

1. Date of the disturbance
2. Time of the disturbance
3. Location (address or nearest intersection)

This information helps the airport track changes linked to the temporary runway configuration. MAC also publishes regular updates on construction status and NOC meeting materials, which explain how noise contours are measured and where mitigation programs apply.

Residents can expect the following through September 26:

• More arrivals and departures using the remaining open runways while Runway 12R‑30L is closed.
• Different flight paths that may bring louder or more frequent noise at certain times of day.
• Community updates through MAC newsletters, NOC meetings, and public briefings.

Once the south parallel runway reopens, the airport says traffic should settle back into pre-closure patterns. However, the expected end‑of‑year GPS procedures could shift noise again. That is why MAC and the FAA plan to keep their community outreach active throughout late 2025. Officials say ongoing monitoring, clear data, and accessible reports help people see whether changes are temporary or lasting.

For families living near the airport, even a short‑term change can affect daily routines—sleep schedules, school time, and outdoor activities. The airport’s noise insulation and planning programs exist to reduce that burden in the most affected zones. While not every household will qualify for insulation, tracking noise and reporting concerns builds the record that guides future steps.

Impacts for airlines and airport operations

For airlines and airport workers, the closure is a trade‑off:

• Concentrating traffic on fewer runways can mean tighter spacing and more coordination for pilots and air traffic control.
• The closure allows the airport to finish safety work that the FAA requires.
• The spring closure finished the first phase; this final phase completes the job before winter.

Summary timeline:

Community members who want to stay informed can follow MAC’s public meetings and read the NOC work plans and reports. Keep the hotline number handy: 612‑726‑9411. During this closure, those calls and comments help the airport understand how the shift in runway use is felt on the ground.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) officials say they will continue to share updates as the project progresses. When the south parallel runway, designated 12R‑30L, returns to service, residents should notice flight activity move back toward typical patterns. The airport and the FAA will then turn to the GPS transition later in the year, with more chances for public input.