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Colas to rebuild Cork Airport’s runway in 10 weeks

Colas has won a fast-track contract to rebuild Cork Airport’s main runway before Christmas.

Irish transport minister Hildegarde Naughton visited the airport on Monday to confirm the approval of €10m to part-fund the project.

Preparatory site works start immediately ahead of 13 September, when the airport will close for 10 weeks for the runway work.

Colas and its supply chain will work 24/7 over the 10 weeks to finish the runway by 22 November in time the Christmas travel period, Colas said. 

The project will create 250 construction and supply jobs.

Some €40m is being invested to upgrade Cork Airport between 2020-2022. Work includes the main runway reconstruction, a new electrical sub-station and a new hold baggage security screening system.

Colas said the reconstruction of the runway will be the fastest large-scale construction project undertaken in the country in recent years: 12 months from funding approval to the completion of the main works – encompassing EU tendering, design, regulatory approvals and construction.

Minister Hildegarde Naughton said: "This will be the single-biggest investment by any Government at Cork Airport and, when complete, it will serve as a key strategic asset for Cork and the entire region over the next 20 years."

Carl Fergusson CEO Colas Limited said: "The scale of the project, from start to finish cannot be underestimated involving detailed planning and logistics – 3,000 truckloads of asphalt, 500 maintenance hole pits to be built, 140 kilometres of electrical cable and 60 kilometres of cable duct and drains to be laid. This is a major project, which has a time sensitive duration, and is essential to the economy of the South of Ireland. We are fully committed to its successful delivery from immediate mobilisation through to the key 10 week main construction phase later this year."

Image: Irish transport minister Hildegarde Naughton visited the airport on Monday to confirm €10m to part-fund the project (Courtesy of Colas)

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