Runway Works: Delivery of Asphalt Plant

24 September 2008

Work on the resurfacing stage of the runway at Jersey Airport moves a step closer this weekend with the delivery into the Island of the mobile asphalt plant. The machinery, which is used to make the asphalt for the runway, arrives on Saturday 27 September. The plant will be transported to the airport site under escort on a number of lorry trailers over the two consecutive evenings of Sunday 28 and Monday 29 September.

Due to the size and number of parts that make up an asphalt plant, it is not possible to move it all in one go. The plant is being moved to the airport during the evenings, when there is expected to be less traffic on the roads. The transportation process will be slow as the vehicles are unable to travel at speeds more than 15mph.

The convoy of vehicles will leave St Helier Harbour at approx 22:00hrs on both evenings and make its way in a westerly direction along the Esplanade, Victoria Avenue through to Beaumont and then up the hill towards the airport. Motorists are advised to take an alternative route and where possible, avoid this route on both evenings. The transportation process is likely to take approximately one and a half hours.

Director of Operations at Jersey Airport, Sandy Sawyer, apologises in advance for any inconvenience caused to motorists but said, “This asphalt plant is vital to the project and we need it on site as soon as possible. Unfortunately, we have no alternative means other than by the main road of transporting it to the airport but hope that by doing it at this time in the evening it will cause the minimum amount of disruption”

She went on to praise the co-operation of a number of agencies involved in the transportation process, including Jersey Harbours, individual parish authorities and DVS. She said, “What may look like a straightforward transport project has in actual fact meant a number of agencies working together to ensure everything runs to plan. We are particularly grateful to our colleagues at Jersey Harbours who will oversee the unloading of the asphalt plant on Saturday evening and ensure that everything is in order for us to begin the transportation on Sunday”