Most of us have waited at a railroad crossing while a long freight train rumbles past. Now picture the same wait, except you're stopping for an airliner. For decades, that was a normal part of driving in Gibraltar.
The short answer: Gibraltar is a tiny British territory at the southern tip of Spain, and its airport runway runs right across its main road. Since the runway was built across it in the 1940s, the main road in and out of Gibraltar, Winston Churchill Avenue, has crossed the runway. Traffic had to stop every time a plane took off or landed.
An Airport Built on a Racetrack
The airport sits on the North Front, between the famous Rock of Gibraltar and the border with Spain. The first attempt at passenger flights came in 1931, using the territory's horse racing track. That service lasted only three and a half months.
The real airport was built on the old racetrack. It opened in 1936 as an emergency airfield for the Royal Navy, and during World War II, when Gibraltar was an important British naval base, it became busy with anti-submarine patrols and convoy protection.
In 1942 and 1943, the runway was extended out into the Bay of Gibraltar. Builders reclaimed land from the sea using rock blasted out of the Rock of Gibraltar while digging military tunnels. By July 1943, the runway stretched about 5,400 feet, long enough for larger aircraft.
Stopping Traffic, Several Times a Day
Because the main road crossed the runway, it had to close whenever an aircraft took off or landed, more than 15 times a day. That meant delays and traffic jams for anyone trying to get in or out of Gibraltar.
Pilots have their own challenges here. Strong crosswinds swirl around the Rock and across the bay, making winter landings especially tricky. A History Channel program on extreme airports ranked Gibraltar the fifth most extreme airport in the world. It placed behind Princess Juliana International Airport, famous for planes swooping low over a public beach, but ahead of Hong Kong's old Kai Tak Airport, known for its sharp turn over the city before landing.
The Tunnel Solution
To ease the jams, Gibraltar built a bypass road with a tunnel. Since March 2023, the tunnel has allowed vehicle traffic to keep flowing while aircraft are landing or taking off. There's also a dedicated tunnel for pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooters.
Here's the charming part: pedestrians can still walk across the runway when the road is open, because it's a shorter route than going through the tunnel. It's a rare chance to stroll across an airport runway on an ordinary errand.
A Small Airport With a Big Story
The runway is owned by Britain's Ministry of Defence and operated by the Royal Air Force, while civilian airlines use a separate terminal. In 2024, the airport handled about 424,000 passengers on 3,628 flights.
It has seen tragedy too. On July 4, 1943, a B-24 Liberator crashed into the sea just after takeoff, killing Polish leader General Władysław Sikorski and most of those aboard. A British inquiry ruled it an accident.
Today, the airport also serves travelers heading to Spain's Costa del Sol. And for anyone who has ever crossed that runway on foot, it makes for one of the most unusual commutes anywhere.
