Eastland Group begins runway resealing at Gisborne Airport on Sunday

Work to reseal a large section of the runway at Gisborne Airport will start on Sunday, 29 March 2015.

Airport manager Murray Bell says the project will take place at night to minimise disruption at the busy regional airport.

“We expect to complete the resealing over about two weeks of night works. During that period the airport will be closed from 8.15pm until 6am the following morning to all traffic, except helicopters.”

Eastland Group took over the management of Gisborne Airport from Gisborne District Council in April 2005. The last runway reseal was finished in 1998.

“The runway had a life expectancy of about 15 years and we’ve waited as long as possible, making do with patches and repairs over the last few years… but it has really got to the point where we need to reseal it now,” says Mr Bell.

The $2.5million contract was awarded to Downer after a tender process. The work involves milling out the current runway asphalt to a depth of 100mm, then overlaying with a new 100mm asphalt layer. The contract is divided into three separate stages with more than 40,000 square metres of asphalt being laid.

The work to be carried out this year will be two portions. The first portion is a 30m wide strip from the railway line north. The second portion is patch repairs required outside the 30m strip, and taxiway repairs. The final portion from the railway line south will be completed at a later date as it has not deteriorated at the same rate as the section north of the runway.

“Over the years, cracks have appeared on parts of the runway. We think they’ve probably been caused by moisture getting in between the layers of old asphalt. Milling down to 100mm should mitigate this problem in the future,” says Mr Bell.

Weather permitting, the contractors will begin work on the site on Sunday 29 March.

“They’ll work through to 1 April then break for Easter. If the weather is good and all goes to plan, we’re expecting Monday 13 April to be the final night of work.

“Eastland Group celebrates its tenth anniversary of the operation of Gisborne Airport in April so it will be nice to have the runway in great shape for that milestone.”

Eastland Group chief executive Matt Todd says the runway project is part of the company’s long term commitment to providing fit-for purpose infrastructure for the Gisborne Tairawhiti region. The company owns and operates Eastland Port, Eastland Network and a number of other businesses in the logistics and energy sectors.

ENDS

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