Ferrovial Debuts Puerto Rico's First Autonomous Construction Machinery on the New Aguadilla Runway

At Rafael Hernandez International Airport in Aguadilla, Spanish construction giant Ferrovial is using autonomous construction machinery for the first time ever in Puerto Rico to build the airport's new runway, a $239 million project aimed at modernizing one of the island's oldest runways without halting the flight operations already running there ¹².

The new runway will measure 3,350 meters long by 46 meters wide, built alongside the current one, which dates back to when the airport was Ramey Air Force Base ². Ferrovial won the contract in October 2024, after Puerto Rico's Ports Authority published a request for proposals in 2021 and the FAA gave the project its final green light in July 2022 ³.

What the autonomous machinery is

What Ferrovial announced this week is the deployment of three compactor rollers adapted for autonomous operation, supervised by a single operator. The machines run repeated passes within pre-delimited areas, following programmed trajectories, to compact the ground before paving ¹. The system includes AI-based obstacle detection that automatically stops the machine if it senses a person or vehicle nearby -- a critical feature in a high-traffic zone like an active airport ¹.

According to Ferrovial, a single operator can now supervise multiple machines at once, which the company describes as a new work model built around coordination between people and autonomous machinery ¹.

The numbers behind the project

• $239 million (EUR 207.1 million): the value of the construction contract Ferrovial won ².
• 3,350 x 46 meters: the new runway's dimensions ².
• $29.2 million: special funds the Financial Oversight and Management Board approved for the Ports Authority in November 2024, as an exception, to advance the work ³.
• $400 million: the broader airport-improvement investment package this project is part of, according to the Ports Authority ³.
• 2021: the year the original request for proposals was published ³.
• July 2022: when the FAA approved the project's final stage ³.

What this means for you

If you live in western Puerto Rico -- Aguadilla, Isabela, Rincon, Mayaguez -- this should not affect your current flights out of Rafael Hernandez airport: the project is designed to be built without interrupting existing operations ¹. What you can expect is visible construction activity around the airport over the next few years, and eventually a more modern runway that could make it easier for new routes or larger aircraft to reach that part of the island.

For people looking for construction work, the project continues to generate local subcontractor work, though automation reduces how many workers are needed specifically for compaction tasks. For businesses and suppliers in the west, the broader $400 million airport-improvement package could bring subcontracting opportunities beyond this phase.

How to do it / Checklist

1. If you fly out of BQN (Aguadilla): confirm your flight directly with your airline as usual -- there are no announced closures or diversions tied to the construction.
2. If you're job-hunting on the project: watch for job postings from Ferrovial Puerto Rico and its subcontractors, and check the Ports Authority's procurement and jobs portal (puertos.pr.gov).
3. If you're a supplier or contractor: follow the Registro Unico de Licitadores (RUL) and Ports Authority solicitations for future phases of the $400 million package.
4. If you live near the airport: if you notice heavy-equipment noise or traffic outside normal hours, you can contact the Ports Authority's office to report it.
5. To stay updated: follow Ports Authority and DTOP press releases, which typically announce project milestones as construction advances.

What comes next

There's no publicly confirmed opening date for the new runway yet; construction began in early 2025 and this is a multi-year project. Ferrovial said this first application of autonomous machinery in Puerto Rico could serve as a model for future infrastructure projects on the island, potentially including other road or airport work handled by the company or its competitors. CoquiList will keep following progress at Rafael Hernandez airport as the work continues.

Sources

1. Noticias Logistica y Transporte - "Ferrovial incorpora maquinaria autonoma para la construccion de una nueva pista de aterrizaje en Puerto Rico" (September 30, 2026) - https://noticiaslogisticaytransporte.com/nuevas-tendencias/30/09/2026/ferrovial-incorpora-maquinaria-autonoma-para-la-construccion-de-una-nueva-pista-de-aterrizaje-en-puerto-rico/194235.html
2. Forbes Espana - "Ferrovial usa por primera vez en Puerto Rico equipos autonomos de construccion de aeropuertos por 207 millones" (September 16, 2026) - https://forbes.es/ultima-hora/1021672/ferrovial-usa-por-primera-vez-en-puerto-rico-equipos-autonomos-de-construccion-de-aeropuertos-por-207-millones/
3. El Nuevo Dia - "Visto bueno de la Junta Fiscal a $29 millones para construir nueva pista en aeropuerto de Aguadilla" (November 30, 2024) - https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/visto-bueno-de-la-junta-fiscal-a-29-millones-para-construir-nueva-pista-en-aeropuerto-de-aguadilla/
4. Actualidad Aeroespacial - "Ferrovial liderara la construccion de una nueva pista en el Aeropuerto de Aguadilla (Puerto Rico)" (October 11, 2024) - https://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/ferrovial-liderara-la-construccion-de-una-nueva-pista-en-el-aeropuerto-de-aguadilla-puerto-rico/