Airports

We constructed a new airport for Lae city, the capital of Morobe province. The Nadzab Airport handles the second largest air passenger traffic and cargoes after Port Moresby's Jackson's Airport.

This project has seen us deliver a new terminal, airport fire station, and office space.

Travellers can continue to enjoy a smooth take-off and landing at Auckland International Airport thanks to the pavement renewals conducted by Brian Perry Civil in four key areas of the Airfield. Taxiway Kilo and Taxiway Bravo 4 involved the reconstruction of approximately 18,127m2 and 3,285m2 respectively of asphalt pavement, including sections of deep lift. The pavement replacement works on Taxiway Kilo were constructed in three separate stages to minimise disruption to the stands on Pier A.

Taxiway Bravo 5 and Taxiway Bravo 6 involved the reconstruction of 166no (6,321m2) Airfield Concrete Pavement Slabs. The works included the replacement and upgrading of existing Airfield Ground Lighting and other affected services and additional minor asphalt works.

BPC completed the project defect-free and one week ahead of programme, despite a COVID-19 lockdown.

The transformational project almost doubled the size of the international terminal departure processing zone, and passenger lounge and retail hub areas. It also included work to reconfigure the landside farewell area, build a new and expanded security screening and processing area, and build a new passenger lounge and duty free shopping hub.

With just 12 months to design, consent and build a new terminal in a live airport environment, Hawkins needed subcontractors with the ability to develop and deliver fast-tracked solutions.

Piletech used smart thinking at every stage to reduce their programme and provide Hawkins with value for money. They worked with AECOM to accelerate the foundation design and consenting process; provided advice on pile load capabilities, ground investigation techniques, previous load test data and tailoring helix positions to intermediate layers. Piletech was even able to bring the Peer Review off the critical path as the load testing was undertaken. 

By drawing on their extensive pipe and plate stocks (which total $3M), Piletech shaved three months from the programme without significantly increasing cost. Their 15-year relationship with JPMarshalls ensured the 200 multiple helix piles were manufactured quickly. 

During construction, Piletech used two rigs which accelerated installation of the piles and successfully managed the heightened safety and operational requirements of working in a live airport.

The resurfacing of the Hawke’s Bay runway 16-34 and main taxiway involved tight construction programming and tolerances.

Being the only runway at Hawke’s Bay Airport capable of landing Air New Zealand commuter aircraft, the site was only available for the resurfacing works when scheduled flights were not in service. This gave the Higgins team a narrow window of operations each night while the runway was closed to aircraft. The length of runway milled and paved was determined by the hours available each night. Typically, the last flight was scheduled around 9.30pm but sometimes as late as 11.00pm. The completed full width section had to be fully compacted, cooled and cleaned of any loose material prior to handover to airport security at 6.00am each morning for outbound flights. The project was completed over 26 nights/5.5 weeks.

Higgins Contractors drew on resources and specialist expertise from a range of Higgins operations to successfully complete this project.  The hallmark of the team’s effectiveness was the focus on absolute customer satisfaction, strong planning, and effective team communication.

This major redevelopment of Jackson’s International Airport enabled a huge expansion in flights into and out of Papua New Guinea, increasing tourism and driving economic growth.

Previously, the only international flights operating to and from Papua New Guinea were from Australia, but the redevelopment enabled the airport to accommodate flights from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Bali and other Asia-Pacific locations, resulting in greatly increased passenger numbers.

Our work involved new domestic and international terminals, public plaza area, paved VIP plaza, three level ATS building, six-storey control tower, maintenance workshops and a fire station. With the redevelopment, the airport used airbridges for the first time. Working in a live airport environment. All construction works had to be planned around plane movements and in a live airport environment. Construction materials were imported, creating significant logistical challenges.

Fletcher was the full construction subcontractor on the project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency which called for engaging a Japanese head contractor.

Approximately 600 Papua New Guinea locals were employed on the project – or a ratio of 30 locals to every one expat.