By Ben Forrest | April 24, 2017 Estimated reading time 6 minutes, 20 seconds.
Critical rehabilitation work on Canada’s busiest runway could finish sooner than planned, as the group that operates Toronto Pearson International Airport tries to fast track the project.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) confirmed Friday it is trying to complete work originally slated for the fall of 2017 and spring of 2018 within two earlier construction phases scheduled to wrap up this spring.
“We continue to look at ways to optimize the current closure period to determine if there are efficiencies we can use right now to minimize work in the fall,” said Erin Kennedy, a GTAA spokesperson, in an email to Skies.
The rehabilitation work includes removing the existing paved surface of runway 05/23, completing critical sub-surface repairs, and re-paving the surface. Workers will also remove, repair and reinstall about 1,000 inset lights in the runway that provide navigational services.
Concrete work on “Taxiway Hotel,” the primary arterial taxiway connecting to the runway’s west end, is also underway. Runway 05/23 accommodates more than 200,000 aircraft movements in a given year–about 45 per cent of Pearson’s total annual movements.
“I kind of describe it as open-heart surgery on the west end of the runway,” said Michael Belanger, director of aviation programs and compliance for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Pearson.
“So it’s certainly life cycle rehabilitation, but it’s certainly in the interest of the regularity and safety of operations at Toronto Pearson that we undertake the work.”
The work was initially split into four phases, with Phase I and Phase II focused on rehabilitating the runway’s west end. Phase I was scheduled to run from March 28 to April 23, while Phase II was slated to run from April 24 through May 16.
Phase III was to run from mid-October to early November and focus on milling and paving the east end of the runway. Phase IV was to take place in 2018 and involve work on Taxiway Hotel.
GTAA is now working toward completing Phase III work in the Phase II timeline in order to minimize disruptions in the fall, said Kennedy. Work on Taxiway Hotel was folded into the current Phase I and II work and was underway as of Friday.
“There are no plans for 2018 on this project,” said Kennedy.
Juggling the massive number of aircraft movements from Runway 05/23 to other runways at Pearson has created logistical challenges, as well as flight delays, cancellations, and noise concerns from residents who aren’t accustomed to the level of traffic on other runways.
Weather conditions earlier this year, including snow, rain, low ceilings and heavy winds, also complicated logistics and prompted frustration from airlines and passengers.
“We’re encouraging everyone to understand that the works are temporary and that we certainly are asking for some patience while we go through this rehabilitation work,” said Belanger.
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure that we can be as responsive and transparent as possible about the impacts of the weather on this project and what it means for [the passengers’] experience,” added Kennedy.
“We continue to remind passengers that it’s certainly in their interest to keep in touch with their airline, before they leave for the airport and make sure that they have the best information on what that means for their flight schedule.”
GTAA has also been active in local and social media, telling passengers to check their flights and communicating the fact that runway rehabilitation is underway.
This is the only major runway construction planned at Pearson for 2017, and the milling and paving work typically has a 10-year lifecycle, said Belanger. GTAA is considering additional rehabilitation work on Runway 05/23 around the year 2022, but the timeline could shift.
“We can’t say with any level of certainty whether it’s going to be 2022,” said Belanger. “It could be beyond that.”
GTAA started the rehabilitation work in March–earlier than usual–with the goal of having the runway back to full service in time for Victoria Day weekend.
“The safety of our passengers is priority, and we want to ensure that we deliver the safest possible operating environment for our passengers, for our airlines,” said Belanger.
“And in order to do that this work is certainly required; we ask for some patience and understanding while we proceed.”
