Airport taxiway to be rebuilt

Wellington Airport’s apron taxiway is set to undergo major reconstruction for the first time since the airport was opened in 1959.

More than 25,000 square metres of new tarmac, new airfield ground lighting, and improved stormwater infrastructure will be installed over the next 18 months, with work beginning last week.

Wellington Airport general manager of infrastructure John Howarth said apron taxiway Bravo, the paved area between the runway and the terminal, had reached the end of its design life and needed to be resurfaced.

‘‘When the apron was first built in 1959, aircraft were much smaller and lighter.

‘‘Over the years, we have resurfaced the area and carried out maintenance as required, but we now need to do a complete reconstruction for resilience and to meet future capacity requirements.’’

The reconstruction work would generate some noise, he said, but most of the work would be done during the day.

For operational reasons,

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‘‘One of our resident blackbirds has decided that he would prefer bathing in our cat’s outdoor water some work will happen at night.

‘‘Where this is the case, we will ensure our project teams and contractors are taking all steps possible to minimise disruption to our surrounding residents,’’ Howarth said.

The airport had engaged the Air Noise Management Committee, which includes local residents, aviation industry and Wellington City Council representatives, on a construction noise management plan.

Howarth said a pugmill – a kind of mixing machine that makes cement products – was moved on to the western apron, bowl rather than in our very posh and elegant bird birth! His sparrow mate had to make do with washing in the puddle created by the blackbird’s vigorous ablutions.’’

‘‘We now need to do a complete reconstruction for resilience and to meet future capacity requirements.’’

John Howarth

Wellington Airport general manager of infrastructure

north of the Airport Retail Park, during December.

‘‘By having the pugmill on site, we can complete the work more efficiently and to a higherquality standard. It will also enable us to reduce the number of trucks coming to and from the site.’’

Construction company Fulton Hogan and engineering consultant GHD were signed on for the project.

Fulton Hogan recently completed major runway resurfacing work at Wellington Airport, and GHD oversaw the installation of runway sensors.