The Emerald Airport Upgrade involved resurfacingÌýthe main runway, taxiway and apron bays,Ìýreconstructing the general and easternÌýaviation aprons and refuelling area, and expanding the general aviation apron. The works were primarily performed at night to enable the airport to return to live operations from 5.30am each day.Ìý
Australia's firstÌýstone mastic asphalt runway is expected to last five-plus years longer than usual runway surfaces and forecast to provide significant savings for Central Highlands Regional Council, the airport owner, in future maintenance costs due to the longer lifespan. Using stone mastic asphalt also eliminatedÌýthe need to cut costly grooves in the 1.9-kilometre runway surface.Ìý
Stone mastic asphalt – containing larger aggregate and more binder – provides very good rut resistance properties, superior durability andÌýperforms wellÌýin hot and cold weather, which were key considerations for Emerald Airport's operators.
°µÍø¸£Àû was selected for the Emerald Airport Upgrade due to our operational and technical expertise developed through our extensive use of stone mastic asphalt in road projects.Ìý°µÍø¸£Àû's stone mastic asphalt was produced and placed meeting the new Australian Asphalt Pavement AssociationÌýairport performance specification requirements includingÌýasphaltÌýmix design performance characteristics, geometrics,Ìýcompaction, surface texture and friction survey.
The mix design production and placement trials in early October demonstrated the suitability of dense gradeÌýand stone mastic asphalt. Under a short project timeline and stringent deliverables, the project team maintained highÌýsafety and quality standards that met the expectation ofÌýthe stakeholders. The main runway works were completed in early 2020.
The works involved:
- Removal of unsuitable subgrade material and rockÌýblanket replacement.
- Deep asphalt patches in the runway and apron parking area.
- Surface milling the apron parking area, providing a dense-gradedÌývariable thickness corrector and the final surface layerÌýon the same night.
- Runway dense graded asphalt at variable thicknessÌýsurface corrector
- Stone mastic asphalt 14mm final surfacing layerÌýthickness ranging from 45mm to 60mm.
- Removal and replacement of the airport ground lighting.
- Construction of the flanking material.
- Fuel-resistant membrane.
- Temporary and permanentÌýline marking of the apron and runway.
- DevelopingÌýan overall design to satisfy CASAÌýMOS139 National Aviation Standards as part of the upgraded design and construct contract.
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