Two runway upgrade projects at two major airports in Vietnam were initiated on Monday morning.
A ceremony was organized in Hanoi to mark the commencement of the two projects with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.
The project at Noi Bai International Airport in the capital, which costs VND2,031 billion (US$88 million), will focus on upgrading two runways, namely 11L/29R (1A) and 11R/29L (1B).
The 1A runway measures 3,200 meters long and 45 meters wide, while the 1B runway is 3,800 meters long and 45 meters wide.
The existing layer of asphalt along the runways will be scrapped off so that their concrete surface can be repaired, before a layer of reinforced concrete, at least 38cm thick, is added.
The project developer will also build three new taxiways and renovate nine existing taxiways at the airdrome.
The project will include the construction of an instrumental landing system (ILS) at the beginning of each runway.
The first phase of the project is expected to take six months, and the 1B runway will resume its operations ahead of the 2021 Lunar New Year.
The second phase will last one year and be finished prior to the 2022 Lunar New Year.
Costing VND2,015 billion ($87 million), the project at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City will include the upgrade of the 25R/07L runway and the construction of three new taxiways.
The developer will build components for flight management, signal lights, signal paints, drainage systems, and other auxiliary works.
The first phase of the project will be carried out in six months, while the second phase will last for 14 months.
The upgrade projects are necessary as the runways of the two airports have been degraded over the past years, especially since 2017 when the two venues started receiving bigger aircraft such as the A350-900, B787-9 and B787-10, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan.
The projects will make sure Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai reach their goals of welcoming 44 million and 50 million passengers per year, respectively, by 2025, Tuan added.
This article was originally published in Tuoitrenews