Riga International Airport Infrastructure Development
On 4 August 2010, SJSC Riga International Airport entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia on the implementation of the European Union project, “Riga International Airport Infrastructure Development”, (Registration No.3DP/3.3.1.4.0/10/IPIA/SM/001).
The Aim
The aim of the project is to improve the environmental conditions of both controlled and open territory, to improve air travel safety standards, and to increase the capacity of Riga International Airport.
It has been planned that the project’s aim will be achieved with the implementation of the following measures:
- the improvement of airfield security by renovating the runway pavement and lighting system, increasing the runway strip’s load bearing capacity, and renovating the rainwater removal and drainage system;
- the implementation of environmentally-related airfield and airport management measures by improving the waste handling process management in terms of the collection, recycling and/or disposal of waste; along with wastewater handling process management, ensuring quality standards and the improvement of the management system; along with chemicals use management, and also including the improvement of aircraft de-icing treatment;
- increasing airfield capacity by the construction of a new taxiway to handle peak-hour traffic and the rebuilding of aprons to increase the number of aircraft parking spaces, and including reduction measures where noise and atmospheric emissions are involved, and installing appropriate technological facilities and operational procedures on the airfield.
As a result of the project, it has been planned that the overall airport capacity will be increased from five million to six million passengers per year by 2014.
The project is supported by co-funding from the Cohesion Fund.
The total eligible project costs are LVL 66,945,228, 61% of which is co-funding from the Cohesion Fund (LVL 41,114,034), while 39% (LVL 25,831,194) is provided by Riga International Airport.
The project is to be implemented by 31 December 2013.
Project Activities
Rebuilding the runway pavement surface.
The rebuilding of the runway pavement surface (53 x 2300m) includes the following work:
- dismantling the centre line lights and end lights on the runway;
- cutting up the old runway pavement surface;
- additional cutting on bituminous concrete in cracked areas;
- arming cracked areas with a geogrid and asphalt-paving, and laying a binding layer;
- renovation the bituminous concrete pavement surface;
- renovation all markings;
- reinstalling the previously dismantled lighting and installing new runway lighting.
Due to the installation of Category II approach lights, the 53 x 50m bituminous concrete surface behind the threshold lights will also be rebuilt.
Strengthening the runway strip (111,150m2) and strengthening the runway’s northern end safety area (371,460m2)
Strengthening the runway strip and the pavement in the northern end’s safety area will mitigate the consequences of potential accidents and provide for faster rescue work if an aircraft overshoots the runway during takeoff or landing.
The construction of additional taxiways (22,600m2)
Two new taxiways are going to be built to increase the capacity of the runway. The new taxiways will be connected to the runway. When landing, aircraft will be able to vacate the runway more quickly before the next aircraft arrives, thereby increasing the runway’s capacity.
Installation of a Category II lighting system at the northern end of the runway (900m)
The runway lighting system at the northern end of the runway will be upgraded to a Category II lighting system. The work will include the installation of touchdown zone lights, the installation of red lighting rows at the runway’s edge, 300 metres before the threshold, and the installation of a light horizon 150 metres from the threshold.
Rebuilding Apron No. 2 (51,000m2)
The rebuilding of Apron No. 2 will include the construction of five parking spaces for Class C turboprop aircraft (such as the Fokker F50 and Bombardier Dash-8).
Rebuilding Apron No. 3 (157,000m2)
The rebuilding of Apron No. 3 will include the construction of parking spaces for 22 Class C aircraft; alternatively, it will be possible to use these parking spaces for 18 Class C and two Class E aircraft.
The construction of two de-icing areas (total area 42,000m2)
Two de-icing platforms will be constructed on the southern and northern sides of the airfield (according to the national statutory requirements of Latvia), allowing for the simultaneous de-icing of three Class C aircraft without disturbing the taxiway traffic of Class E aircraft. Additionally, it will be possible to ensure the de-icing treatment of one Class D/E aircraft instead of two Class C aircraft.
Rainwater removal system and airfield drainage (291,700m2)
The rainwater removal and airfield drainage system will be improved in parallel with the rebuilding of the runway pavement and the construction of additional taxiways, aprons and de-icing platforms. Rainwater and airfield drainage systems are also going to be rebuilt. The rainwater removal system will separately collect surface runoff water from the aircraft aprons where refuelling takes place and this water will be fed through efficient fuel and chemicals filters.
Vehicle washing hangar
A vehicle washing hangar for washing airfield machinery and other airport vehicles is going to be constructed in the airport’s technical area. The building will be equipped with a recirculating water system in order to reduce water consumption, as well as a separator of oil products and other chemicals to separate waste products of differing volumes which will ensure that any oil product runoff from the vehicles and waste is collected before being fed into the sewerage.
The construction of a waste collection hangar
A closed hangar for the collection of all categories of waste that is produced by the airport will be constructed in the technical area, where the waste will be stored before being collected by licensed contractors for recycling or transport to a landfill site. The area will be equipped with waste containers for sorted waste (paper, cardboard, metal, glass, etc), including a special container for hazardous waste (oil products, batteries and other chemical waste) and a waste container for bulky items.
The project is going to be implemented in several stages:
Stage I:
- rebuilding the runway pavement surface;
- constructing a rainwater removal, purification, and airfield drainage system, including a set of ameliorative measures;
- runway strip improvement (ensuring its load-bearing capacity);
- constructing additional taxiways;
- installing a Category II lighting system at the northern end of the runway;
Stage II:
- rebuilding Apron No. 2;
Stage III:
- rebuilding Apron No. 3;
Stage IV:
- constructing de-icing platforms;
Stage V:
- constructing a vehicle washing hangar
- constructing a waste collection area.
The construction’s design is currently under development. The commencement of construction work has been planned for March 2012.
