Airport operator Finavia has opened the newly renovated Runway 15-33, also known as Runway 2, at Helsinki Airport in Finland.

With a total investment of €13m, the upgrade has been carried out to ensure safe aircraft operations and enhance the runway infrastructure. The work on the project was completed in four months.

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The scope of the project included replacement of the runway’s pavement layers, rainwater drainage and lighting system.

Finavia technical director Henri Hansson said: “We also made notable changes to the lighting system. The new runway lights use energy-efficient LED technology.”

The 138,000m² refurbished area of the runway at Helsinki Airport has been paved with 60,000t of asphalt, and upgraded with 173 rainwater gullies, 5km of rainwater drainage, 4.5km of subsurface drainage, and 30km of cable tubing.

Hansson added: "The runway is paved with a 20cm surface layer and compressed stone structures that are designed to withhold the load of the aircraft.

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"The new runway lights use energy-efficient LED technology."

“The surface of the runway must be level, but it may not accumulate water. Furthermore, there must be sufficient friction.”

Areas affected by aircraft noise are expected to return to normal after the runway upgrade.

Over the last couple of years, the airport operator has invested a total of €60 in the modernisation of five runways.

Two runways at Helsinki Airport were upgraded in 2015 and 2017.


Image: Finnair landing at Helsinki Airport. Photo: courtesy of Finavia.

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