APAM has a rolling capital works program that refurbishes and replaces aging taxiways and apron pavement that have reached the end of their operational life.
DCWC developed the business case for the Melbourne Airport Pavement Maintenance Program 2.0 (MAPMP-2.0), which focused on asphalt pavement replacement, rapid-set concrete slab replacement for isolated failures, and reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha South (between taxiways Juliet and Whiskey). MAPMP 2.0 represents the second iteration of the program and relates to works from FY23 to FY25.
APAM conducted an Annual Technical Inspection (ATI) of airfield pavement, producing key documents such as the Pavement Inspection Report (PIR) for CASA and a Pavement Management Plan (PMP) that outlined funding needs for capital works over the next 1, 3, and 10 years based on pavement condition and priority. The 2021 PMP recommended short- and medium-term works considering these factors. Based on these results, MAPMP-2.0 was developed to include both concrete and asphalt pavement replacements, with funding approval received in June 2022. Additionally, MAPMP-2.0 implements an Airfield Asset Management Plan (AAMP) to proactively manage pavement assets, enabling timely maintenance before complete failures occur and informing future operational and capital expenditure needs.
The first phase of the project began in July 2022, focusing on detailed planning and design for physical works in FY23. Key projects included replacing slabs on Taxiway Kilo, Runway 34 (within the concrete end zones), and various asphalt patching activities, as well as refurbishing Taxiway Alpha South and implementing compliance upgrades for Taxiway Sierra. Given the diverse nature of the scope and the operational restrictions for each deliverable, the works have been divided into three Design Packages. The scope of work includes:
DP1 - Asphalt Works and Shoulder Reconstruction
The minor asphalt pavement repairs and shoulder reconstruction works include the following:
- Remove and replace existing asphalt pavement identified as being in ‘poor/failed’ condition.
- Remove and replace existing asphalt shoulder pavement identified as being in ‘poor/failed’ condition.
- Identify and specify existing AGL to be protected and reinstated where impacted by the works, with minor secondary cable rerouting as required to comply with MOS 139.
- Reinstate temporary line marking.
- Identify and specify the protection of all existing services during the replacement works.
- Identify surface treatments and minor ancillary works required for the new asphalt pavement.
DP2 - Expedient Concrete Pavement
This package of works includes provisions for undertaking slab replacement in concrete pavement areas identified as having significant damage and structural distress. The concrete works entail:
- Removing and replacing existing concrete slabs, with the understanding that replacement slabs will use high early-strength expedient concrete.
- Identifying and specifying existing AGL that must be protected and reinstated where impacted by the works, including minor secondary cable re-routing as required to comply with MOS 139.
- Reinstating temporary line marking.
- Identifying and specifying protection for all existing services during the replacement works.
- Identifying minor ancillary works necessary for the new expedient concrete pavement.
Not permitting traditional PCC works due to the critical location of the existing slabs within the Melbourne Airport airfield.
DP3 - Taxiway Alpha Reconstruction
Reconstruction of Taxiway Alpha (between TWY J and TWY W) - Due to operational impacts, works cannot affect the adjacent TWY J, W, S, and therefore reconstruction of TWY A is confined to the straight section between IHPs:
- Increase taxiway width to a minimum of 23m to comply with CASA MOS 6.37.
- Provide a minimum of 10.5m wide paved shoulders to be compliant with CASA MOS 6.45.
- Provide a minimum of 102m wide taxiway strip to comply with CASA MOS 6.48.
- Provide a minimum of 44m wide graded portion of the taxiway strip to comply with MOS 6.49.
- The current scope specifies that the new shoulder and blast pavements are limited to the main pavement reconstruction extents, meaning they will not extend beyond the IHPs to connect with the existing eastern shoulders of TWY J and TWY W.
- CASA MOS 139 Code F compliant geometry.
- AGL to feature deep base cans with primary conduits running along the TWY A centreline where existing base cans have been removed due to pavement works.
Safeguarded provisions for M3R:
- Future water main sleeve and comms conduits crossing under TWY A.
- Vertical geometry interface with M3R taxiway connections.
- No AGL fittings provision for future M3R AGL.
Image: Melbourne Airport
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