RDU's Overnight Runway Repairs: A Race Against Time

Raleigh-Durham International Airport faces a critical challenge each fall: repairing its main runway, nearing the end of its useful life, with a full replacement still four years away. The urgent task is to prevent a full closure due to alkali-silica reaction, or ASR, which causes the concrete to crack and chip. The airport has developed a precise overnight operation, replacing between 350-425 by 25-foot concrete slabs since spring 2019. The process involves excavating old concrete, pouring new sections with a higher cement content, and connecting new and old sections with steel rods. Despite the pressure to complete the work on time, the runway typically reopens earlier than scheduled, ensuring long-haul flights can continue. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.