One of San Francisco International Airport's four runways is about to go quiet for half the year, and neighbors under the flight paths are being warned to brace for the noise that comes with it. Runway 1R will be closed from March 30 through October 2 for a major repaving and taxiway upgrade, which will push most takeoffs and landings onto the longer 28L and 28R runways. That shift is expected to alter departure paths and increase aircraft noise over Peninsula communities, with Brisbane officials telling residents to expect more frequent departures overhead and louder engine noise on some days.
Project details from the airport
According to San Francisco International Airport, the closure will run from March 30 to October 2 while crews repave the runway surface, upgrade adjacent taxiways, improve airfield lighting, and repaint markings. During construction, SFO says Runway 1L will be used as a taxiway, and Granite Construction has been awarded the contract for the roughly $180 million project, with about $92.1 million financed by the FAA. Airport officials are warning of tighter runway capacity during peak windows but say that fewer than 10% of flights are projected to be delayed, with average delays under 30 minutes.
What Brisbane officials are telling residents
As the City of Brisbane explained in a news release, local councilmembers flagged the repaving project at a recent meeting and warned of “increased and unavoidable” aircraft noise while the work is underway. The city published simplified flight pattern maps and noted that Brisbane's hills can amplify departures routed toward the Midwest and East Coast, so some households may hear more jet noise or occasional construction sounds on certain days. To keep people in the loop, Brisbane plans to share updates through the March STAR newsletter, city signboards and social media, while directing residents to SFO's noise office for any formal reports.
How travel and delays might be affected
Local reporting has highlighted that even though airport officials anticipate only modest disruptions overall, the loss of one runway will tighten margins during busy travel periods and the peak summer season. As reported by SFGate, SFO's planning suggests that most delays will bunch up around the morning and evening rushes, and that fewer runway options could make tight connections riskier. Aviation observers say travelers should be ready for longer taxi times and occasional peak hour slowdowns during the closure window.
Where to report noise and get updates
Per SFO's Aircraft Noise Office, residents can file noise reports through the WebTrak noise tracker or call the airport's Noise Hotline at (650) 821-4736 (toll free 1-877-206-8290). The airport's general help desk can be reached at (650) 821-8211. SFO also amplified Brisbane's advisory on social media, highlighting the city's notice in a post on X.
@flySFO will start a major runway repaving project in late March, closing a runway for 6 months. Expect increased aircraft noise due to altered flight paths over Brisbane. Updates will be shared via the March STAR and City signboards. For concerns, visit: https://t.co/LggipAhUrg. pic.twitter.com/GKeAaMHoPJ
— City of Brisbane (@brisbaneca) February 18, 2026
What to watch next
Expect more detailed operational maps and reminders as the March start date gets closer, with both SFO and affected Peninsula cities planning to share updates publicly. Travelers flying between late March and early October may want to pad their connections a bit and keep an eye on airline apps and SFO flight status feeds as the project gets underway.
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