A final push to complete improvements to the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was set to begin Tuesday night, with the airport suspending all flights for more than two weeks to accommodate construction.

Spirit Airlines, the Unity airport’s sole commercial carrier, is expected to hit the pause button on passenger service there for about a month, while work continues on widening and strengthening the runway.

Projects to expand the airport terminal’s secure passenger holding area, strengthen the terminal apron and revamp a parking area also will be underway.

Spirit scheduled one final Tuesday flight, from and to Myrtle Beach, S.C., before the 8 p.m. runway shutdown. According to airport officials, the runway is set to reopen at 6:15 a.m. Sept. 25 for corporate and general aviation while Spirit flights are scheduled to resume on Oct. 7.

During the runway closure, Pittsburgh International Airport will be the closest option for local Spirit passengers who want to fly to Myrtle Beach or to destinations in Florida.

Golden Triangle Construction began nighttime construction in April to widen the runway from 100 feet to 150 feet, and has completed about 70% of its work, according to Westmoreland County Airport Authority engineer Scott Kunselman. Derry Construction is picking up the final phase of the project, including adding an extra 3-inch layer of pavement to strengthen the runway.

The bulk of the project will be completed during the runway shutdown, but it will take several more months to add the finishing touches, during nighttime work.

“When we come out of the shutdown, we have to wait a month before we do the (pavement) grooving,” Kunselman said. “The permanent painting is very weather-sensitive. Likely, that will end up in the spring.”

Airport officials noted the widened runway will help pilots who attempt to land at the airport during inclement weather. The strengthened pavement will allow the runway to hold up under more frequent flights by larger aircraft.

“We’re widening the runway so it’s safer and more accessible,” said airport authority Chairman Paul Puleo. He expressed hope that the runway improvements will open the way for adding connecting flights to other destinations in addition to airports in Florida.

The authority on Tuesday approved a change order adding $27,685 to Golden Triangle’s contract, for a new total of nearly $11.7 million. Kunselman said the extra money covers replacement of an aging airfield lighting control system in the air traffic control tower as well as federally-required modifications to the runway’s threshold bar, which delineates the beginning of the area available for a landing.

The tower lighting controls allow “pilots to come in and turn the lights on at night,” Kunselman said. “That system died. It probably was installed over 30 years ago.”

Golden Triangle also is replacing asphalt paving with concrete, to strengthen the terminal apron in areas where aircraft park while passengers board or leave the planes. That contract will increase by $154,674, to $607,594, to place additional concrete near the terminal’s Gate 1 and to repair deteriorating concrete near a hangar.

The authority awarded a $266,362 contract to Curry & Kepple of New Alexandria, for reconstructing the Palmer airport’s southwest parking area.

“It’s in two tiers with steps between them,” Kunselman said of the parking lot. “We’ll be making one big lot with better grades and laying it out a little better to pick up some extra spaces.” He said about six new spaces will be created.

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