Use of Stone Mastic Asphalt on Airport Pavements - aaptp

4.3.1 Norwich Airport
<strong>Stone</strong> mastic asphalt has been used on the subsidiary runway 04-22. The
existing asphalt surface <strong>of</strong> runway 04-22 had deteriorated badly and needed to
be resurfaced at minimum cost while ensuring it would last at least until 2001
without major maintenance. An SMA solution was recommended as this
provided benefits in terms <strong>of</strong> surface characteristics, flexibility <strong>of</strong> laying
conditions and potential resistance to reflective cracking.
The works undertaken on runway 04-22 were part <strong>of</strong> an overall rehabilitation
program. They were required to improve the standard <strong>of</strong> the subsidiary runway
so that it could be used while rehabilitation works were undertaken on runway
09-27.
Works started in November 1996. The wearing course surface <strong>of</strong> the 1,100
metre subsidiary runway was planed to remove irregularities and years <strong>of</strong>
maintenance repairs. Any defective underlying material disturbed by the
planing was removed and replaced with hot rolled asphalt before 30 mm <strong>of</strong>
SMA was laid over the runway. This was the first use on a UK runway <strong>of</strong>
Tarmac Masterpave from Tarmac Heavy Building Materials, a proprietary
form <strong>of</strong> SMA.
An inspection <strong>of</strong> runway 04-22 after one year revealed negligible deterioration
<strong>of</strong> the surface despite increased use during the resurfacing <strong>of</strong> a 530 metre
section <strong>of</strong> runway 09-27 and a 180 metre section <strong>of</strong> taxiway.
Following the success <strong>of</strong> the SMA on runway 04-22, the specification for the
overlay on runway 09-27 was changed to SMA during the tender period.
The works were undertaken by Tarmac Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Services. Despite traffic
volumes being low, the experience with SMA at Norwich is claimed to be
good.
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