02-05-2025
Airport runway resealed
The Alexandra Aerodrome has reopened following a week-long closure to resurface its 1200m runway, a long-awaited upgrade that began on March 31.
Central Otago District Council property officer Tara Bates said the project had been in the council's long-term plan for years, with the runway not having been resealed since it was first built in the 1980s.
The resurfacing cost $470,000 — about half the cost of earlier estimates — and involved applying a SteelGuard surface over the existing chipseal.
Ms Bates said the new surface would enhance safety by reducing the risk of loose stones that could damage aircraft.
Nigel Forrester, a resident of an apartment at the airport, welcomed the work.
Mr Forrester said the upgrade would not only improve safety for pilots and passengers but would also help preserve an important council asset. — APL
