Airport shut for seven weekends
EAST Midlands Airport is to close to all air traffic for seven consecutive weekends to allow a major runway resurfacing operation to take place.
Workers will refurbish the full length of the airport’s main runway on Saturdays and Sundays between November 5 and December 19.
It will mean that no flights in or out of the airport will take place until the project, the first of its kind in the UK, has been completed.
Airport director Andy Cliffe said the timing of the maintenance was planned to avoid disruption over the festive period.
He said: “After an in-depth consultation with our airlines and cargo operators, we came to the decision that completing the project in this way was the best way to avoid major disruption in the lead up to Christmas. The timing for us is crucial and we had to look to do this in the winter season, when we naturally aren’t as busy.”
The project will see some 360 workers laying 50,000 tonnes of specially formulated material across 150,000m2 of runway.
While the landing strip is closed, the airport will also replace more than 1,200 lights with eco-friendly LED versions.
The airport’s runway was last refurbished in 1999, and has a natural lifespan of around 12 to 17 years.
Construction company Galliford Try will carry out the resurfacing works.
The company’s aviation director Colin Abbott said: “We are delighted to be working with the East Midlands Airport team on the refurbishment of their runway.
“Logistics make this an exceptionally challenging project and due to the hard work of all involved scoping out every possible scenario, we have every confidence that the scheme will be delivered safely and on time.”