Runway Reseal Completes First Stage

The resealing of New Plymouth Airport’s runway is proceeding well, with the first stage now complete.

Contractors have repaired all the cracks that had developed in the tarmac and are now onto stage two of the project: Resealing the entire 1,310m-long runway.

This is the first resealing of the runway since the airport opened 40 years ago, with just two slurry seals put down in the 1990s.

“This project requires the top of the runway to be ground off before the new tarmac is laid down,” says Airport Manager Kevin Hill.

“The milling machine is massive and looks impressive when it’s lit up at night.

“The contractor Fulton Hogan is doing a very good job in a demanding environment: Completing on average about 200m2 a night and having the runway cleared for use the next morning.

“We’re on schedule to have the job completed by the end of February, and the new tarmac will last between 15 and 20 years.”

New Plymouth Airport is becoming busier each year with a 15 per cent increase in aircraft movements between 2007 and 2008 (totalling 40,690 and 46,506 respectively).

Passenger numbers also increased last year: Up 5.5 per cent to 293,935 from the 278,738 recorded in 2007. “We estimate that more than 380,000 people visited the terminal last year when you include those turning up just to welcome or farewell passengers,” says Mr Hill.

“Overall, New Plymouth is the 11th-busiest airport in New Zealand, sitting just behind Rotorua and ahead of Invercargill and Tauranga.”