After 18 weeks of intensive works by Colas in particular, Groupe ADP recommissioned runway 3 at Paris-Orly Airport right on time : on 2nd of December 2019, as the schedule expected. So Groupe ADP has kept its commitments.
“The Paris-Orly Airport teams met the challenge of keeping an airport open, running and safe with only one operational runway. For 18 weeks, over 6,000 flights were modified (rescheduled or cancelled). This colossal work would not have been possible without a permanent dialogue with all the neighbouring communities, the cooperation between the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), airline companies and the exemplary collaboration with the airport’s operational teams,” says Régis Lacote, Managing Director of Paris-Orly Airport.
“The project is unique in two ways: technically speaking, it’s the first time an airport runway has been refurbished using 2/3 of the original materials. And also time-wise. Groupe ADP undertook to complete the works in 18 weeks; the objective was attained thanks to the cooperation between our staff and the Colas Group’s teams,” says Thierry de Séverac, Groupe ADP Director of Engineering & Development .
“The Paris-Orly Airport teams met the challenge of keeping an airport open, running and safe with only one operational runway. For 18 weeks, over 6,000 flights were modified (rescheduled or cancelled). This colossal work would not have been possible without a permanent dialogue with all the neighbouring communities, the cooperation between the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), airline companies and the exemplary collaboration with the airport’s operational teams,” says Régis Lacote, Managing Director of Paris-Orly Airport.
“The project is unique in two ways: technically speaking, it’s the first time an airport runway has been refurbished using 2/3 of the original materials. And also time-wise. Groupe ADP undertook to complete the works in 18 weeks; the objective was attained thanks to the cooperation between our staff and the Colas Group’s teams,” says Thierry de Séverac, Groupe ADP Director of Engineering & Development .
One project in three key stages
The works were conducted in three phases:
- From January 2019 to 27 July: an initial phase to prepare and provide the work site with all the machines, aggregates and supplies to ensure the self-sufficient running of operations;
- From 28 July to 2 September 2019: a second phase during which two of the three airport’s runways were closed due to the refurbishment of the intersection between two runways and the reinforcement of Bridge 2 on the RN7;
- From 2 September until reopening: a third phase for the reconstruction of the rest of the runway and its taxiways, and the replacement of runway lights.
- From 28 July to 2 September 2019: a second phase during which two of the three airport’s runways were closed due to the refurbishment of the intersection between two runways and the reinforcement of Bridge 2 on the RN7;
- From 2 September until reopening: a third phase for the reconstruction of the rest of the runway and its taxiways, and the replacement of runway lights.
A first in terms of recycling
The environmental aspect of the works on runway 3 has also been exemplary. A recycling plant, specifically set up at the edge of the airport’s runways, allowed the reuse of 200,000 tonnes of materials from the former runway 3. This recycling has allowed to avoid the need for 13,000 semi-trailers to circulate: 6,500 to evacuate waste to a landfill site and 6,500 to transport materials to the building site.
“We were able to complete the project in a record time thanks to our experience in airport works and to the great synergy between the various Group entities that were mobilised. Besides keeping an eye on deadlines and the quality of the work, our goal was to reduce the project’s carbon footprint by recycling the old runway” explains Didier Manseau, Head of Colas Île-de-France Normandie.
“We mobilised 700 employees at peak times, from a dozen Colas branches in France and abroad, as well as two mobile asphalt mixing plants and a mobile concrete plant installed on site. Together with the modernisation works at the Iqaluit International Airport in the far north of Canada, and in Antananarivo and Nosy Be in Madagascar, Paris-Orly’s runway 3 now counts as another emblematic landmark for the Group," says Fabrice Monnaert, Head of Colas Projects.
