Cork Airport runway reconstruction

Overview

Cork Airport is owned and operated by a state-owned company, Dublin Airport Authority (daa). The runway reconstruction forms part of a EUR40m+ investment in Cork Airport for 2020-2022. It was the fastest large-scale construction project undertaken in Ireland in recent years – 12 months from funding approval to the completion of the main works – encompassing EU tendering, design, all regulatory approvals and construction.

Cork’s runway has been in operation since 1961. It was originally 1,883m long (Area 1) and was extended by a further 300m in 1989 (Area 2). Since its first construction, Cork’s only overlay to date was in 1999. This was completed on the original runway element only. Therefore, the pavement on Area 1 had seen 21 years of operation and Area 2, 31 years.

Colas Limited was awarded the main runway reconstruction and remediation contract and appointed Atkins SNC-Lavalin as designer for the project. This webinar focuses on the collaborative working approach that was adopted by Colas on the project to deliver the runway works during an unprecedented 10-week airport closure. During the works, the Colas team, led by David Fraser, comprised over 150 site operatives and supervisors at peak.

Following is a summary of the works delivered during the airport closure:

• Break out and rebuild 300m of runway 500mm deep;
• Plane out 18m wide central portion 150mm deep for 1,100m, overlay central section 220mm reprofile and min 50mm to outer section;
• Plane out 800m central portion 50mm, overlay with 150mm to reprofile and overlay full width;
• Install 440 No. new Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) pits and 58,000 linear metres of new 150mm ducting;
• 110,000m AGL cabling and 750 No. new AGL fittings.

The project was completed on time and on budget.