It takes a lot of dirt to build a runway. At Raleigh-Durham International Airport, we’re talking almost five million cubic yards of it.

That’s how much earth crews are moving to prepare the site for RDU’s new primary Runway 5L-23R. From the ground, the scale is impressive. From the air, it’s even better.

The $1.1 billion project broke ground in October 2023 and is one of the biggest pieces of Transform RDU, our capital program to prepare the airport for the Triangle’s continued growth.

The new runway will stretch 10,639 feet, giving airlines more runway length to reach long-haul destinations. It is being built 537 feet northwest of the existing primary runway, which will eventually be converted to a taxiway.

Our latest drone video gives you a view that’s hard to appreciate from the terminal. Take a look at the progress and watch RDU’s new runway take shape.