July 14, 2026 —
The Coast Guard held a ceremony July 7 at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with government and industry representatives to break ground on a $32 million recapitalization of Runway 1-19, a critical effort to enhance operational capability at one of the service’s busiest aviation installations.
The Facilities Design and Construction Center on Aug. 11, 2025, awarded a contract to RQ Construction LLC of Carlsbad, California, to reconstruct the runway with a new paved surface, lighting and signage as well as enhanced drainage, restored taxiways and other improvements. The restored Runway 1-19 will greatly improve air traffic operations and safety by providing a critical crosswind capability that reduces the need to reposition aircraft during severe weather; limiting wear on the primary runway; and supporting uninterrupted flight training, testing, depot-level maintenance and global operational tasking. Moreover, having a second runway will increase operational readiness, giving aircrews the flexibility to deploy without delay day or night to carry out lifesaving and law enforcement missions throughout the busy East District.
This contract, which is part of the service’s historic investment in shore infrastructure, is funded through fiscal year 2021 appropriations. The work is expected to be completed by fall 2027.