Works on Melbourne Airportโs main north-south runway are nearing completion with the final stage involving Airfield Ground Lighting upgrades to take place over the coming months.
Originally scheduled to finish this year, all works requiring nighttime runway closures will now be completed by March 2024.
This is due to a delay in the government approvals process for part of the works.
The project has so far replaced 2500 metres of runway using more than 38,000 tonnes of asphalt, including 20% recycled material produced on site from existing asphalt stocks.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said it was imperative to get these once in a decade works right.
โThese safety-critical, preventive maintenance works have been undertaken with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity and collaboration to ensure the runway remains in a sound condition to support aircraft movements for the next 10-12 years,โ he said.
โClosing our main runway whilst continuing operations at a 24/7 curfew free airport has been challenging, but the project is a credit to the airport team and our contractors.
โTemporary overnight closures of the north-south runway will remain in place five nights a week from 1am through to 6am to facilitate the final stages of this project.
โThis means that aircraft taking off and landing during these night-time maintenance windows will use the existing east-west runway.
โWe have strategically scheduled some heavy aircraft types, such as A380s, to arrive and depart earlier or later than the night-time closures, due to operational limitations on the east-west runway, this will have the added benefit of minimising impact to nearby communities.
โWhile we have made efforts to reduce the impact, we do anticipate that communities to the east and west of the airport will experience some additional flight activity during those night-time closures.โ
Anyone with questions can contact [email protected]. Noise complaints or feedback can be directed to Airservicesโ Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) at 1800 802 584 or online at https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/community/environment/aircraft-noise/about-making-a-complaint.