After years of confrontation, the major airport-related story now for surrounding Highline communities is economic development partnerships with the Port of Seattle.

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler said last week that the port and Des Moines are cooperating in developing 90 acres in the city that once was to be used as a fill dirt area for the third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport.

The port operates the airport.

Burien is also working with the port to develop the city's northeast area that is impacted by flight operations, including the site of the Lora Lake Apartments.

Sheckler reflected on the new economic cooperation amid news stories about the start of paving the third runway.

Pouring concrete is the last major phase of the construction project before the third runway opens in late 2008.

Sheckler was chairman of the Airport Communities Coalition that fought a decade-long legal battle with the port over runway construction. The coalition included Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Tukwila and Federal Way as well as the Highline School District.

"We lost the fight a couple of years ago," Sheckler said. "I am not disappointed. We did the best we could and got what we could get."

He cited environmental and noise mitigation by the port that would have not been accomplished without the fight.

Port workers are pouring the concrete 17 inches thick over the 8,500 feet-long and 150 feet wide third runway. About 130,00 cubic yards of concrete and 35,000 tons of asphalt for the runway shoulders will be needed.

A plant on the north end of the airport produces the concrete. A moving slip-form paving machine places and finishes the pavement without using fixed forms.

Port officials said the method is an efficient way of placing large airfield and roadway concrete pavements.

Work will continue through the summer with completion expected in the fall.

The Federal Aviation Administration has constructed a navigational tower with approach lights and navigational aids for the new runway.

In September 2008, the FAA will begin runway inspections. The third runway is scheduled to open in November 2008.

The new runway will be used mainly for arrivals during bad weather, according to port staffers.

The existing runways are only 800 feet apart, but FAA rules mandate that runways be 2,500 feet apart for two planes to take off or land at the same time during bad weather.

That currently limits the airport to one stream of traffic at those times.

Sea-Tac's center runway is 9,425 feet long and the east runway is 11,900 feet long.