New Runway Ribbon Cutting Published March 26, 2013 By 130304 TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- News media representatives are invited to attend a ribbon cutting for a reconstructed runway and a new landing zone at Travis Air Force Base March 28 at 9 a.m. The three-year construction project recycled 99,000 tons of material from an old runway and reconstructed it into the new runway while simultaneously building a new landing zone from scratch. The newly constructed runway will allow for triple-runway operations on base, as opposed to the current single operations. Additionally, the new landing zone will enable aircrew to train locally rather than fly to Washington, saving an estimated $7.3 million per year in fuel costs. In just two and a half years, the $68 million project will have paid for itself. Coverage will include the ribbon cutting ceremony, comments from base leadership and civic leaders and the first official touch-and-go by a C-17 Globemaster III on the new landing zone. Photographs and video coverage will be permitted. Interviews with base officials can be arranged following the ceremony. News media representatives should arrive at the Pass and Registration Office (building 599) to the right of the Travis AFB main gate by 9 a.m. to be escorted to the ribbon-cutting site. Interested news media representatives should contact 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs at (707) 424-2011.