Bendigo Airport Stage 2

About the project

BMD Constructions was contracted to deliver a new 1600 metre ‘Class 3C’ runway, and associated taxiway and apron upgrades as part of the second stage of the Bendigo Airport redevelopment project. The new runway delivers improved infrastructure, expands capacity for emergency service providers and enables aircrafts carrying up to 70 passengers to land.

Scope

Deliver both landside and airside activities

Construction 85,000m2 of flexible pavement including a 200 millimetre cement treated subbase, 160 millimetre subbase and base course, and a two coat seal for the runways, taxiways and aprons

Minor clearing and top soil stripping

260,000m3 of bulk earthworks including cut to fill for the construction of subgrade and runway profile

Commissioning of the works

Construction of subsurface drainage systems including 815 metres of culverts ranging from 450 to 900 millimetres in diameter and box culverts, 2100 by 1200 millimetres in size

Line marking of the new runway, taxiways, aircraft aprons and access roads

Installation of a new runway airfield ground lighting system including runway edge lights, precision approach path indicator system, movements area guidance signs, illuminated wind direction indicators and a new airport electrical control cubicle

Outcomes

Through detailed planning, reduction of overall stages within the project’s construction and coordination with airport management, BMD Constructions was able to complete the project without closure of the runway, ensuring operations were never affected. The project was also completed on time and on budget despite facing challenges including 89 days of delay due to wet weather over a 5-month period.

As part of BMD Constructions’ commitment to the communities in which we operate, 77% of the project’s workforce lived locally. During construction, earthmoving equipment and earthworks, fencing, crushed rock and resealing works were either sourced locally or delivered by the local workforce.

From the beginning of the project, the team faced technical challenges which resulted in an overall change in the high strength runway/taxiway and apron pavement design. The onsite material which was proposed to be used as select fill material did not meet the required parameters. To develop a solution, BMD Constructions took representative samples from the site cut material and treated them with different combinations and quantities of lime and cement.

Due to the effectiveness of stabilising the existing site material with cement, and ultimately increasing the overall pavement strength, Bendigo Airport could accommodate larger aircraft than originally anticipated and delivered cost saving to the client allowing them to build a further taxiway which allows light aircraft to exit the runway at the southern end, significantly reducing congestion on the runway during busy times.