LaGuardia Airport is a runway success.

The Precast Concrete Institute has named the LaGuardia Airport runway extension project to its list of the Top 50 projects of all time.

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the institute created a list of the 50 most significant precast concrete projects.

LaGuardia Airport's runway extension, completed in 1966, was chosen from a list of nearly 400 candidates nominated by PCI member companies nationwide. Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia said, "We are proud and honored that the runway extension project has been recognized by PCI as one of the all-time best.

"This initiative was the product of creative engineering coupled with hard work that ultimately has served our airport and our passengers well, and we will continue to identify opportunities to make additional improvements. Just last year, additional work on the runway deck was completed that allowed us to handle the Boeing 767-400, one of the next generation of quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft."

Port Authority Executive Director Joseph J. Seymour said, "LaGuardia Airport is one of the smallest, most heavily used airports in the United States. It covers an area of only 680 acres, but because of innovations such as this runway deck project, we are able to maximize the airport's capacity.

"In 2003, the airport handled 22.5 million passengers, and as the airport prepares to celebrate its 65th anniversary later this year, we remain committed to its future and look forward to even greater innovations."

Port Authority Vice-Chairman Charles A. Gargano said, "Under the Port Authority's leadership, LaGuardia Airport has been one of New York City's great economic engines since 1939. This particular runway project, completed shortly after the dawn of the jet age, has helped our historic airport maintain its competitive edge, and we are honored that the PCI has recognized its importance."

At the time of its completion in 1966, the runway extension project was one of the largest precast concrete projects in the world, using more than two million square feet of concrete slab. Concrete pieces were created using assembly line methods and lifted into place over the Flushing Bay by cranes and barges.

Typically, concrete is cast and formed at the construction site. Precast concrete is formed and cast in large pieces in a plant and shipped to the construction site where it is installed and ready for immediate use.

LaGuardia Airport opened to commercial traffic in December 1939. To date, the Port Authority has invested more than $1 billion in the facility.