London City Airport - Western Apron Extension

London City Airport
Value: £540,000
Duration: 8 weeks
Completion: May 2005

Project Brief
To construct three additional Aircraft Stands on the Western Apron at London City Airport. The project required partial demolition of the old Ground Services building and extension of the existing perimeter security fence to enclose the redundant Old Hartman Road access, and thus provide the extra footprint for the new stands to be constructed.

Background to the Contract
London City Airport has experienced a substantial increase in traffic in recent years due in part to the extension of the docklands financial district and improved access via the Docklands Light Railway. The Airport could not continue to increase its traffic load without increasing stand capacity at the airport. Tarmac Limited is the Term Maintenance Contractor for the Airport external works and we were appointed to undertake the Western Apron Extension contract.

The Works
The scheme was built in two distinct phases to keep the airport fully operational throughout the works. Phase 1 had to be completed before Phase 2 could commence, because of the requirement to re-locate the charging units for the luggage mules (electric powered tractors) from outside the operations building prior to its demolition. The impact of the Airport restrictions were reduced by cordoning off the site using temporary security fenced enclosures. This had the effect of converting 'air side' areas to areas with 'land side' rules and regulations. We also used the Airport's normal restrictions to advance the works, including the demolition of the operations building which was completed during a weekend shutdown period. This greatly reduced the possibility of any Foreign Object Debris (FOD) affecting the Airport operations.

Phase 1 works consisted of:

Extending the security fencing to enclose the Phase 1 works
Constructing a new toilet discharge unit
Partially removing an existing footway and constructing a new asphalt hard standing for electric mules (baggage tractors)
Constructing new concrete bases for mule charging units and control kiosk
Installing new stores unit

Phase 2 works consisted of:

Removing existing security fence and erecting a temporary fence.
Disconnecting and modifying services to existing ground services building.
Partially demolishing existing ground services building.
Installing new drainage and petrol interceptor.
Building reinforced concrete retaining wall.
Demolishing 6 No existing (live) chambers and rebuilding to Airport hard standing specification.
Excavating for and placing Type 1 sub base in new stand area.
Placing wet lean concrete and Pavement Quality (PQ) Concrete (3500m2) to new stands.
Installing new electric ducts and constructing reinforced concrete chambers.
Constructing reinforced concrete floodlight column bases.
Constructing 30m long rock filled gabion retaining wall and a 4m high brick faced retaining wall.
Building up the rear of new stands (Old Hartman Road) to new level and preparing for new asphalt hard standing.
Laying asphalt to rear of new stands.
Erecting new 12m high floodlight columns and install new cabling.
Installing new heavy duty Aco drain.
Erecting new 3m high security fence to rear of new stands.
Removing temporary security fence.
Installing white lining to new stands.

"We were requested by the client to accelerate the works to complete a week earlier than originally programmed which was accomplished with a major effort from the site team.

"Today we handed over the new West Apron Stands 12-14 to Ops on schedule. I would just like to thank all of you and your teams for the blood, sweat and tears in making this possible in what was a very short timescale"
Jonathan Smith
Project Manager- London City Airport

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