McAlester runway closed

(McAlester-AP) -- A section of runway that buckled this week at the McAlester airport will be replaced Monday. <br/><br/>Airport manager Butch Mellor says the runway will be reopened later next week. <br/><br/>Heat

Saturday, July 17th 2004, 12:05 pm

By: News On 6

(McAlester-AP) -- A section of runway that buckled this week at the McAlester airport will be replaced Monday.

Airport manager Butch Mellor says the runway will be reopened later next week.

Heat caused the airport's only regular runway to buckle. The National Weather Service says temperatures reached 97 yesterday in McAlester. Highs earlier in the week were in the lower to mid-90s.

City Manager Randy Green says the concrete's temperature was 144 degrees.

The damaged section of runway was poured in 1950.

Green says the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is giving the city emergency money to pay for repairs. The city will take care of the labor to make the repairs.

Until then, Mellor is discouraging air traffic on the runway.