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3,300-foot lifelines: Remote runway construction takes grit, group effort

June 16, 2021

Aviation engineer John Limb and environmental scientist Ryan Cooper discuss the challenges of designing and building airports in Alaska

Certain things about life in Alaska are absolutes. Bears will emerge from their dens in the spring. Aurora watchers will chase the Northern Lights in winter. And aviation continues to be a literal lifeline to the 82 percent of communities that lie off Alaska’s road system.

“In some places, people are relying on those [flights] not just to get out but to get stuff in,” says John Limb, senior associate at Stantec. “The groceries come in on the airplane, the medicine comes in on the airplane, the mail comes in on the airplane.”

Read the full article in the June issue of Alaska Business.

  • John Limb

    John leads airport planning, design, and construction management projects for Stantec in Texas. He has over 23 years of experience in civil engineering design, construction, materials testing, and construction administration.

    Contact John
  • Ryan  Cooper

    An environmental scientist based in Anchorage, Ryan is a lifelong Alaskan who’s spent the last 13 years studying biology and its interactions with development

    Contact Ryan
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