Road and sewer construction in high-risk areas

Colas took over the work site at the airport in early May. The specialists are implementing a fundamental project for the operation and development of the airport, building a new main sewage collector.

The backbone of the airport's gravity sewage network will be demolished and a new, larger diameter sewer will be built, and a section will be upgraded.

Significant increase in the capacity of the system

The project involves replacing the existing DN400 nominal diameter pipeline system, which is at the end of its life cycle, with 500 pipes of 600 mm inside diameter for 2,354 metres and 103.5 metres of larger diameter pipes of 600 mm inside diameter. The work is being carried out at a depth of 5-6 metres.

The aim of the investment is to ensure that the new wastewater network will serve the airport and its growing number of passengers. The capacity of the system will increase to 1080 cubic metres per day at the end of the project, with a peak hourly flow of 30 litres per second.

The construction of the new backbone will be carried out while the existing sewer is in operation

The sewer construction works will be carried out in three phases by three teams, the company informed. Currently, the project is 30 percent complete.

The construction is being carried out in five, sometimes six-metre deep working pits, while the existing sewer is kept in operation.

To achieve this, temporary transfer of wastewater will be carried out on some necessary sections of the existing and the new route. Where possible, a new pipeline will be built alongside the old one. Once certified, the wastewater will be transferred to the new network.

During the reconstruction works, which will cover a length of 2,700 metres, a 300-metre section of pipe will be renovated using compact pipe technology. This will involve lining the existing pipeline with KPE pipe from the inside using special purpose machines, without the need for a working pit, and thus creating a new load-bearing sewer pipeline.

Utility development at the protection zone of the running track

The airport is subject to special security regulations, which must also be observed with particular care by Colas professionals. During construction, they must not obstruct the traffic and operation of the airport. To this end, the airport authorities are in constant contact with the works.

The construction of the new sewer will also affect special, so-called SRA, sites. The 2.7-kilometre-long sewer will run outside the controlled land, on aerial sites and in the protection zone of the runway.
The so-called SRA, or security restricted area, is a high-risk area of the airport, a part of the airside where, in addition to access control, additional security controls are in place.

Road construction at the engine test site

Construction work is also underway on a special section of the airport, the engine test bed. Here, a 200-metre section of service road is being built. A new embankment is being built by moving around 2000 cubic metres of earth. 

By raising the level of the road, they will be able to ensure that the canal falls evenly in this section for gravity technology.
This element of the project will be implemented where aircraft maintenance involves running the engines at partial or even maximum power for a limited period of time while the aircraft is on the ground. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.