Leipzig/Halle Airport: northern runway back in service after reconstruction work
The concrete surface has been completely replaced and the classic lighting replaced by modern LED technology during the reconstruction work that lasted about four-and-a-half months.
Götz Ahmelmann, CEO of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, comments, “The redevelopment of the northern runway was an important and ambitious project for Leipzig/Halle Airport. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to complete a major financial project on time and within the planned budget. This kind of focused work can only be completed with a committed and professional team – and that applies just as much to our partners as to our colleagues at Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG. The repair work is an investment in the efficiency of our infrastructure: by renewing the concrete surface, we’re obtaining long-term operating reliability for the airport. And the switch to LED lighting is another important contribution to energy efficiency.”
The concrete surface of the northern runway had suffered substantial alkali-silica reaction damage after 21 years of intensive use: this is the same kind of damage as occurs on motorways. Colloquially, it is known as “concrete cancer”. The risk with this damage is that porous concrete may break loose and damage aircraft engines.
By applying about 300,000 tonnes of fresh concrete, the operating reliability of the runway and the taxiways has now been safeguarded for up to 30 years. Installing the LED lighting involves more than 2,200 different lights, connected by 350 kilometres of cables.
All the work will have been completed by 30 September. The airport has invested approx. EUR 90 million in the reconstruction work.
You can obtain more information about the building work at: www.mdf-ag.com/SLBNord/