Naples Airport to raise runway lights to fight future hurricane flooding

NAPLES, Fla. —

Naples Airport is beginning construction on a major resiliency project designed to help keep the airport operating during and after hurricanes and tropical storms.

Airport officials, aviation leaders and community representatives gathered Thursday for a groundbreaking ceremony launching the Airfield Lighting Rehabilitation and Electrical Vault Replacement Project at Naples Airport.

According to the Naples Airport Authority, the $25.4 million project includes installing 1,080 elevated edge lights along runways and taxiways and rebuilding the airport’s electrical vault with a storm-resilient design.

The airport said the elevated lighting system is expected to be among the first of its kind at a coastal airport. The watertight lights will sit 20 inches above the ground to better protect against storm surge flooding.

Airport officials said elevated airfield lights are commonly used at northern airports to maintain visibility during snowstorms, but many airports in the South use lights mounted flush to the ground or about 14 inches high, making them more vulnerable to flooding.

The Naples Airport Authority said it worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to advocate for the design change for flood-prone airports. The FAA now plans to update its national design standards, according to the authority.

The project also includes rebuilding the airport’s electrical vault and raising equipment above the base flood elevation and five feet higher than its current location.

Officials pointed to Hurricane Ian in 2022 as a key reason for the upgrades. During the storm, portions of the airport were flooded by storm surge, damaging airfield lighting and navigational aids.

The airport said floodwaters came within inches of reaching the lighting vault, which could have disabled lighting systems and affected nighttime and low-visibility operations for weeks or months.

Naples Airport is home to several public service operations, including law enforcement, fire and ambulance services, and mosquito control. The airport also serves as a staging area for rescue and humanitarian missions after major storms.

The airport has also added other flood protection measures in recent years. In August 2025, Naples Airport received a Tiger Dam flood barrier system made up of 3,000 feet of flexible tubing designed to protect buildings and equipment from flooding.

The Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners approved construction and administration services for the project in October 2025.

Airport officials said the project is being funded through insurance proceeds, state and federal grants, and airport capital funds. The airport said it does not receive local taxpayer dollars for operations or capital projects.

Construction is expected to take about 20 months to complete.

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