You are here: VANTAGE Case StudiesCAG – Resurfacing of Runways at Changi Airport

Client

Changi Airport Group

Project Completion

Nov 2016

CAG – Resurfacing of Runways at Changi Airport

Securing another contract to carry out the major overhaul of both runways at Singapore Changi Airport, two special asphalt mixtures produced with polymer modified bitumen of performance grade 82 (PG 82) were supplied and paved by Samwoh. These asphalt mixtures, namely, hot mix asphalt – Changi (HMAC PG 82) and stone mastic asphalt – Changi (SMAC PG 82 with fibre), have been successfully deployed for the resurfacing works at Runway 1 and Runway 2 respectively.
Runway 1, 4,000 m by 60 m, and Runway 2, 3,500 m by 20 m, were milled and paved with the specially developed asphalt mixtures for a thickness of 75 mm. Due to the extremely short working window on the runways, meticulous planning and stringent coordination were vital with the deployment of full suites of specialized machineries and crews.
In addition, the milled surface was assessed with the advanced technology using rotating laser senor for the measurement of surface marco-texture before paving works were carried out. On the other hand, the entire Runway 1 was cut with a grooving machine to establish the first-of-its-kind trapezoidal grooves in the world for better runway drainage and skid resistance.
All affected airfield light fittings were removed before the commencement of resurfacing works. Both airfield lighting fittings and line markings were reinstated promptly after each operation and before the runways were reopened to traffic.

Special Feature

Three teams of milling and paving crews were deployed for the resurfacing of Runway 1 with up to 2,700 square metres to be completed within less than 3 hours of available working window per operation
The top layer of the runways (i.e. 75 mm) was replaced with HMAC or SMAC, produced with high performance polymer modified bitumen of PG 82
Introduction of advanced technology for the measurement of macro-texture of milled surface using a rotating laser sensor
Singapore Changi Airport is the first in the world to adopt trapezoidal grooves in a fully operational commercial airport
Airfield lightings affected by the resurfacing work were removed and then refitted on the following day to ensure compliance
Line markings were reinstated promptly after each operation and before the runways were reopened to traffic