Airport Runway Rehabilitation

10,000m2 of concrete runway and taxiway at Gimpo, South Korea’s number 2 airport, suffered from varying degrees of subsidence, from 50mm to 160mm. The subsidence meant that the surface design stormwater profiles were no longer effective. Ponding after rain created ice patches, which could cause aircraft to skid. The project was completed with precision in 28 days by Uretek Slab Lifting bringing the surfaces back to level, and Uretek Deep Injection effecting re-support where required.

To remove all areas of potential ponding from the entire airport pavement by raising the sunken slabs and restoring the hydraulic contours and to reestablish and re-confirm complete support back onto the sub-base soils. Very importantly the project was required to be achieved without any interruption to airport operations.

The Australian team was flown in with all technical equipment and materials.

From multiple Operations Rigs, expanding, structural resins were injected beneath the slabs to restore the hydraulic contours in subsided sections. Uretek Deep Injection was used to strengthen the foundation ground.

Unlike concrete ‘mud-jacking’, which had been trialled previously unsuccessfully, the Uretek resins achieved near maximum strength almost instantly and thus allowed aircraft to operate on injected areas just 30 minutes later.

The airport slabs were rehabilitated with ponding on the runways and taxiways eliminated completely. The surface contours were restored precisely, enabling aircraft to operate in smooth, problem-free conditions.

This extensive project was completed in just 28 days without interruption to airport operations at any time.