Upgrade to Edinburgh runway finished - Edinburgh Airport News

Airport news for Edinburgh on 24/11/2008.

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Although the upgrades were scheduled for completion at the end of this month, the work has been finished and the runway is fully operational again.

The airport’s main runway handles approximately 115,000 flights annually, and the upgrade work was carried out at night to cause the least amount of disruptions to services. The second runway was used when the work was being done.

Using the secondary runway at night meant different flying patterns, and that some areas near the airport that are not normally troubled by aircraft noise were disturbed during the period of work – including the south and west of Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian.

Eight months of work saw the laying of 25,000 tonnes of asphalt and the installation of 1,000 new runway lights. It is expected that the resurfacing will extend the life of the main runway for another 15 years.

Edinburgh airport’s managing director, Gordon Dewar, commented on the successful completion of the project: "This has been a complex and challenging project, involving a number of organisations and many hundreds of airport workers. I am delighted that, working together, we have completed the resurfacing work on time, and on budget."

He also expressed his gratitude to area residents who had to deal with the noise and disruptions during the eight-month period, for their "patience and goodwill."

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