Airfield Construction and Maintenance Services

Colas’ Airfield Division is playing its part in an exceptional development, having been appointed as specialist paving contractor for the multi-million pound rehabilitation of the runway and new runway extension works at London Southend Airport.

Purchased in December 2008 by The Stobart Group and formerly known as RAF Rochford, London Southend Airport is a long-established regional airport for South East Essex and is the Eastern Gateway to London.

During WW2 it played an important part in defending Essex, the East End and the Port of London, but recently the airport has embarked on a major redevelopment programme that will see it become a striking, modern, new facility for Southend.

Developments at London Southend Airport include a brand new airport railway station, providing passengers with fast and frequent door-to-door times inbound to London; a brand new state of the art control tower; the building of an entirely new re-sited terminal building; and a brand new on site hotel.

A spokesman for the airport said: “It’s an exciting time for the airport right now as we are beginning to see all the developments we have been planning and working towards finally starting to happen.”

Works are set to be completed in time so that London Southend Airport can capitalise on the opportunities afforded by the London Olympics and Paralympics. By extending the runway, the airport will be able to offer airlines operating commercial passenger services to a wide range of business and holiday destinations that it cannot currently serve and EasyJet will start operating from London Southend Airport from April 2012.

With a reputation for high quality and innovation in the airport sector, Colas’ paving teams will lay over 3,000 cubic metres of lean mix concrete to form the base of the new runway extension and will install a new un-grooved BBA asphalt surface course to the entire existing and extended runway.

BBA was introduced into the UK by Colas from Europe in 2006 and since then numerous UK airport projects having been completed using the product. With significant time, cost and risk savings associated with the use of BBA, together with enhanced technical advantages compared to Marshall Asphalt, the un-grooved surface course is increasingly in demand at UK airports.

Earlier this year Colas completed the resurfacing of Runway 1 at Manchester International Airport with an un-grooved BBA, which delivered a saving of several hundred thousand pounds in grooving costs alone.

Colas is extremely proud to be involved with the developments at London Southend Airport.

Further details of developments at the airport can be found at: www.flysouthend2012.com