TPS provides design services for Oxford Airport runway

Architectural and engineering design practice, TPS, provided civil engineering and M&E design consultancy services on the recent Oxford Airport main runway improvements project. Completed in June, the improvements allow Oxford Airport to be used by larger and heavier aircraft and enable operations in poor weather conditions.

TPS first became involved in the project by acting as advisors to Oxford Aviation Services (OAS) in the autumn of 2005. They suggested options to upgrade the 1,319m long by 23m wide runway by strengthening the existing pavement, widening it by 7m and adding aeronautical lighting to support an Instrument Landing System (ILS).

TPS produced an outline design and tender documentation for a design and build construction contract. The main challenge was to ensure runway non-availability was minimised, allowing OAS to maintain safe operational capability as much as practicable.

In January 2007, design and build contractor Aggregate Industries appointed TPS to develop their designs. In a period of intense fast-track activity, TPS produced construction drawings that allowed enabling works to start on site in March 2007, followed by the main runway works in April. Working closely with Aggregate Industries, TPS produced a design that was tailored for the preferred materials and a construction sequence that scheduled a series of weekend runway closures.

The runway was surfaced with grooved Marshall Asphalt which provides excellent frictional qualities in wet weather. A new drainage system was designed to collect water from the 30% larger pavement area and attenuate flows close to source so that the flow rate at the outfalls is not affected. Design of the earthworks associated with the new ILS glidepath enabled the retention of excavated materials on site.

The project included all the work to the associated electrical systems to the 01-19 runway Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) and navigational systems to satisfy the requirements for a CAT 1 installation. TPS provided the design and specification for the AGL and associated electrical works including:

• New approach lighting for runway 19
• Runway AGL and associated Constant Current Regulators (CCR) and cabling
• Electrical distribution around the airfield to power the new navigational aids and meteorological equipment
• A back-up generator to supply the air traffic control, the AGL and Nav-Aids and Mets Aids equipment
• A new power supply for the airport to cater for the increased electrical demand as a result of the new equipment provided
• Relocation of existing CCRs to a new facility to make way for the navigation aids system .
• The new CCR facility

TPS project director, Gerry Prickett, said: “The runway improvements project was completed 10 days before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on 6 - 8th July. This was the milestone date fixed by OAS to enable them to offer an enhanced service to Grand Prix visitors on what is always their busiest week in the year. We are delighted at the success of the project and are proud of our involvement in it.”

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