b'RUNWAYSYOO 65residents had strongly opposed any sort of runway expansion.The fencing, from Groundbreaking Foundations Inc., interrupts They were worried that any new project would just increasesound waves generated by aircraft on the ground. Project aircraft noise, he explains. So for this new project, we really haddesigners selected the product for its ability to reduce ground to show how this expanded runway would actually cut down onnoise by 5 to 10 decibels as well as its general aesthetic appeal. the noise, especially from aircraft taking off. The sound barrier system uses galvanized steel posts and Materials and drawings supplied by HM Aero helped airportreflective rigid polyvinyl chloride (RPVC) sound wall panels that management obtain support for the concept, and the project wasmeet ASTM E90 sound transmission loss requirements.approved by various government entities. The city of OshawaThe acoustic wall covers 1,290 feet and is constructed from finalized a $6.6 million budget, and construction was scheduled150-mm-high RPVC panels with integrated steel accessory from early September to mid-Octobera period that traditionallypanels inserted within the PVC section. Because the components has the most cooperative weather for outdoor work.are lightweight and modular, installers could hand-stack panels to Some tenants were temporarily inconvenienced duringreach the required wall height of 10.5 feet.construction, namely those operating larger corporate jets orThe noise wall panels are a Silentium Noise Barrier product military aircraft that need all 4,250 feet of the runway for safedesigned to meet all applicable industry codes and standards for operations. However, the construction period was minimized to thenoise barriers, including fire testing, physical outdoor weathering, best extent possible, the weather cooperated, and constructionaccelerated weather testing, impact resistance and wind load was finished on schedule in October 2025. resistance of up to 48 pounds per square foot. Noise Barriers and Blast Deflectors Two stands of blast deflectors were installed about 200 feet Beyond lengthening the runway to get aircraft and their associatedfrom the tip of Runway 30 and in the taxiway shoulder area, noise in the air faster and higher, YOO also installed noise barriersprimarily to protect the acoustic fencing from aircraft exhaust and at the tip of Runway 30 and along its connecting taxiway. debris kicked up during taxi, takeoff and landing. The deflectors AirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2026'