The primary runway for the Long Beach Airport will close intermittently for repairs over the next couple of weeks—forcing a change in flight paths that those living nearby could notice.

The estimated $2 million project includes repaving the runway, laying down a fuel-resistant coat of asphalt and repaving the markings, said airport spokeswoman Stephanie Montuya-Morisky. The work will begin Monday evening and is expected to wrap up May 25.

The approximately 50 commercial flights generally slotted to take off from the primary runway each day will have to use the secondary runway during the closure.

The primary runway is diagonal, running from northwest to southeast. Typically, flights would come in over Leisure World, in Seal Beach, and then Cal State Long Beach before landing on the southeast end of the runway.

Planes will takeoff from the opposite end and fly northwest toward San Antonio Drive before banking left; over the 710 freeway, planes will either head west or make a U-turn, heading south over downtown.

But using the east-west-facing secondary runway – which sometimes happens because of wind and other issues, Montuya-Morisky said – planes will won’t be able to approach the airport head-on.

Instead, from about Seal Beach, planes will turn north before banking west over El Dorado Park. Planes taking off from the runway will either continue west or make a sharper U-turn than from the primary runway – over Signal Hill and Alamitos Beach.

“There may be a noticeable difference in air traffic,” Montuya-Morisky said. “That’s why we want to let people know.”

The Federal Aviation Administration recommended the repairs during its last inspection of the airport in November, but did not provide a deadline for when it should be finished, Montuya-Morisky, and is unrelated to the $65-$75 million improvements to the ticketing area and lobby.

The construction will take place from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. daily, with a caveat: the primary runway will be open from May 18 to May 21.

Besides the new flight path, residents should not notice the construction, Montuya-Morisky said.