Wellington Airport is taking advantage of the plunge in international flight numbers to bring forward planned runway resurfacing work.
Photo: Supplied / Wellington Airport
The renewal work, which is needed about every decade, was originally slated for summer 2021 into 2022.
It starts this week and will be done overnight to prevent disruption to airline schedules.
Bringing the project forward meant it would have a longer overnight working window enabling it to complete the work more efficiently - in about four months rather than six, subject to weather, Wellington Airport head of airfield development and delivery Nick Petkov said.
More than 200 contractors will remove and replace 35,000 tonnes of asphalt that will be recycled into roading projects around the Capital.
Between September and December this year, milling and paving work work will be done, with grooving of the surface to improve the water run-off and traction done from December to February 2021.
Fulton Hogan surfacing divisional manager Ben Struthers said work would be done from 10pm until 5.30am - three hours more a night compared to when it was last done in 2009.
"In addition to reducing the project's duration, this will have quality benefits because longer nightly runs will mean fewer joins in the pavement and a smoother overall surface as a result," Struthers said.
The airport said it was taking steps to minimise noise and disruption for residents.
These included using noise barriers and acoustic curtains, non-vibrating compactors where possible, using less disruptive reverse beepers on trucks, and stockpiling material on-site so there were fewer night-time truck movements.
The work, costing $13.7 million, will be completed in February.