A recent view of the Airport apron under construction |
Getting on the work site at Hewanorra International
Airport, where work is ongoing by CIE Ltd on the apron is no walk in the park –
especially if you are not part of the crew. You must obtain a security pass
from the airport personnel, and on top of this, you are electronically scanned at
the security hut by Port Police guards before entering the site. The whole
process takes anywhere between 15 – 20 minutes. With all the threats nowadays
one cannot blame the authorities for taking such precautionary measures.
Centre Drainage trench |
At the work site – rollers were compacting,
graders were leveling, workers were meticulously digging a drainage trench
across the apron and 10-wheelers were entering and leaving the compound with
their loads. Sub-base material is at the moment being added and compacted to
reach the required level before the layers of base material and asphalt can be
spread. According to CIE Ltd site
engineer, the compaction must be thorough and consistent to get the perfect
surface.
The airport apron is constructed to provide
adequate support for the loads imposed by airplanes and to produce a firm,
stable, smooth, all-year, all-weather surface. To produce such a pavement
requires a coordination of many factors of design, construction, and inspection
to assure the best possible combination of available materials and a high
standard of workmanship - This is the forte of CIE Ltd.
While work is ongoing on the apron, a section of
the Banse/La Haut and Laborie Village Main Road Project, the Laborie High Road, was
given a layer of asphalt recently, following the completion of the upgrade of
the WASCO's pipe system along that stretch of road.
The Banse/La Haut road is now complete with only the final layer of asphalt awaiting to be laid. This final layer is usually done 6 - 12 months after the first layer has been applied, to allow it to settle.