RAF NORTHOLT RUNWAY PROJECT
Mar 15, 2023 11:24:03 AM
LIENT: Defence Estates
CONSULTANTS: Halcrow
SITE: RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands
CONTRACTOR: Colas / Mott MacDonald
QUANTITY: 13,800m2
PRODUCT: GlasGrid® GG100
DATE: 2010/2011
Services: Surface Reinforcement | Surface Dressing | Preservation
A massive project that took place 8,000 miles away on the Falkland Islands. It was the refurbishment of the airfield at Mount Pleasant Airport. The Asphalt Reinforcement Services team of experts carried it out with military precision using GlasGrid® 8501 ensuring everything went smoothly.
“IT IS CRITICAL TO GET MAIN RUNWAY OPEN IN TIME EVERY FRIDAY TO MAINTAIN THE ISLAND’S KEY SUPPLY LINES. THE RUNWAY HAD TO REMAIN OPERABLE FOR MILITARY USE ALL WEEK. A SQUADRON OF RAF TYPHOONS IS BASED HERE AND THE PHASING OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN CALCULATED TO ALLOW TAKE OFF WITHIN 15 MINUTES’ NOTICE. FIVE YEARS LATER THE RUNWAY REMAINS CRACK FREE.”
SIMON DOWNING,
AIRFIELDS BUSINESS MANAGER, COLAS
KEY BENEFITS
Efficiency – Refurbishment and resurfacing work completed while maintaining a fully functional airfield
Logistics – Organising and completing work 8000 miles from the UK using 2 mobile asphalt plants
Longevity – Using patented technology to produce a robust and long lasting result
Cost – Reducing the need for reactive maintenance and further closure of the runways
Reliability – A runway that could handle the elements and keep people connected
Collaboration – Ensuring the right people and tools for the right job
START
In 2010, Asphalt Reinforcement Services were called up for service, when Defence Estates awarded Colas’ Airfield Division a multi-million pound project to refurbish the airfield at Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands Islands. This airport is the only joint military and civilian airfield on British soil.
ROUTE
It was a challenging logistical operation. Asphalt Reinforcement Services was involved in the resurfacing of both of Mount Pleasant’s 2.4km runways before moving on to the refurbishment of all the asphalt surfaces using specialist surface treatments. These included the runways, taxiways, links and loops and much of the work was carried out at night, under very extreme weather conditions.
Significant resources and logistics were required to complete the project, which is incidentally 8,000 miles from the UK. This included two mobile asphalt plants along with reinforcements that came from Colas’ own Warrington plant, which supplied the entire bitumen and bond coat required for the project. Over 12,000 drums of binder were filled and transported.
FINISH
The refurbishments and resurfacing work were completed whilst maintaining a fully functioning airfield and active military operations. The project, which ran from Autumn 2010 to early 2011, was the first major refurbishment of the airfield since it was constructed in 1985 and was planned to coincide with summer in the southern hemisphere and the 25th anniversary events to commemorate the Falklands war.
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