Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), has selected Dufferin Construction as lead contractor for the Runway 06L/24R rehabilitation project, scheduled to start in early April and extend through fall 2022.
Dufferin Construction was chosen “in part for its prioritization of safety, willingness to collaborate with the GTAA and other industry partners to minimize noise impacts on communities wherever possible and commitment to green building practices”.
Minimizing expected impacts to the community during construction is a priority for the GTAA, and steps include reducing airline slots and adjusting schedules for the duration of the work.
Modern innovation and advanced planning will ensure the project is completed in months instead of years. It will create about 200,000 person hours of work and employ sustainable construction practices, including the use of recycled materials and upgrades to 1,800 LED lights to enhance safety and reduce the carbon footprint of the runway.
“Dufferin Construction is pleased to be working at Toronto Pearson for another construction season on this historic project,” says Gary Dempster, district manager, Dufferin Construction.
“Dufferin has been working airside at Toronto Pearson for 30+ years and looks forward to working collaboratively with the Project Team to deliver this project successfully while mitigating impacts to airside operations and neighbouring communities.”
First built in the 1960s, this 3-km runway needs to be fully repaired due to the wearing down of its concrete sub-structure because of weather conditions, use and time. This project will extend the life of the runway by 30 years and enhance the safety of the runway.
The project is one of the largest runway repair projects in the airport’s history.Work will be completed in three phases, starting with replacement of the west-end of the runway and lighting upgrades to lighting. Phase 2 (late June through September) will extend construction to taxiways and the phase 3 (mid September through November) involves redevelopment of the east end of the main runway.
“A strong Toronto Pearson will support a strong region, a strong province and a strong Canada as we collectively emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Pat Neville, vice president, Airport Development and Technical Services, GTAA.
“We’re pleased to have Dufferin Construction on board for this important project, which will ensure the continued safe operation of one of Canada’s most vital pieces of infrastructure using modern, green and efficient practices that take into account impacts on the communities surrounding the airport.”