VolkerFitzpatrick completes ‘transformational’ £8.5 million upgrade to runways at Gloucestershire Airport
VolkerFitzpatrick has recently completed £8.5 million of major upgrades to runways at Gloucestershire Airport, the busiest general aviation airport in the UK. Much needed resurfacing works on the main and crosswind runways started in January and also included the installation of new runway lighting, as well as upgrades to signs, drainage, and below-ground infrastructure in readiness for a new radar system.
The carefully orchestrated programme of work was carried out in four phases and enabled airport operations to continue throughout to minimise disruption to the airfield operators. Now complete, the airport's two runways that remained open during the project have closed to make way for the development of a new business park, CGX Connect.
Kevin Berry, VolkerFitzpatrick operations director, commented: "Needing to keep two runways open while works were underway, to minimise the impacts on day-to-day airport operations and the surrounding area, was always going to present us with some challenges. We'd like to thank everyone at the airport, as well as surrounding neighbours, for their understanding and cooperation over the last several months – this has all contributed to us delivering the project on time and to budget."
Justin Wright, senior project manager at project management company, Ridge & Partners LLP, added: "It's been really pleasing to work on a project so close to Ridge and Partners' Cheltenham HQ. We're glad to have worked alongside VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver the upgrades on time and in budget and look forward to seeing the sustainable growth these upgrades help unlock for Gloucestershire Airport."
"The successful completion of these upgrades to airside infrastructure heralds the start of a new chapter for Gloucestershire Airport – possibly the single most transformative period in our recent history," explained Karen Taylor, managing director of Gloucestershire Airport. "Putting the airport firmly at the top end of aviation standards and technology, these vital upgrades elevate the quality and status of the airport and, together with ongoing work to deliver CGX Connect, serve as the catalyst enabling us to actively explore additional revenue streams and realise our long-term strategy for sustainable growth."
The airport currently contributes around £52 million annually to the local economy. Funding to deliver refurbishment of, and improvement to, the airport's runways was made available by the airport's joint shareholders, Gloucester City and Cheltenham Borough councils, in recognition of the important contribution Gloucestershire Airport will continue to make to the region's economic growth.