Runway reseal takes off at Marlborough Airport

Marlborough App

Work is set to start on Marlborough Airport's $10.7 million maintenance project. Photo: Marlborough Airport.

Construction is set to begin Marlborough Airport’s largest upkeep project to date.

It will take 35 nightshifts to lay 70,500 square metres of pavement across the airport’s runway, taxiway and apron.

The $10.7 million maintenance project will also see improvements to emergency access, lighting and changes to cope with the expected arrival of electric aircraft.

Chief executive of Marlborough Airport Ltd (MAL) Dean Heiford says runways are the highest risk for any airport.

“Safety is the top priority for aircraft and travellers visiting Marlborough,” he says.

“The project also includes improvements to the older car park near the terminal, where we’re adding nearly 1,000 native plants and a new outdoor seating area, while we re-pave and improve its layout.”

This investment in infrastructure happens once every 15 years.

Funded through airport operations, airside construction will take place at night to minimise disruption.

“There are no planned disruptions to flights, as this work will be done in sections and at night,” Dean says.

“The short-term car park will be closed for a brief period after the runway reseal, so that we can improve the layout and drainage, as well as reseal the car park surface.”

Runway upkeep work will be done overnight to minimise disruption to passengers and flights. Photo: Marlborough Airport.

TDZ Projects is leading the project delivery, alongside design engineers Beca and recently appointed contractor Fulton Hogan.

In 2024, a rigorous closed tender process was carried out and specialist contractors were invited to bid on this project, based on previous airport experience in high-risk projects.

“We received a strong response to the tender process, which was chosen due to the specialist nature and high risks involved with the project,” Dean says.

“It was highly competitive, not only in price but also risk management and the calibre of people with previous airport experience.”

For the first time in the airport’s procurement process, sustainability initiatives accounted for 10 per cent of the tender.

This has resulted in the project millings, or crushed bits of old pavement, to be saved and re-used in future projects in Marlborough.

MAL is a council-controlled organisation, 100 per cent owned by MDC Holdings, which is a council controlled trading organisation established to act as a holding company for its commercial entities, such as MAL, as well as Port Marlborough NZ Ltd.

In addition to commercial flights and delivering dividends to Council, the airport is a lifeline under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

For updates on this project, visit www.marlboroughairport.co.nz

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