32 RUNWAYS May | June 2026 AirportImprovement.com YVR In addition to determining whether the project could resume each night, there were a number of checkpoints throughout each work shift. “Teams would work together with the contractors, our engineering teams and our design consultants to make any decisions they may need in the event that something came up,” says Henschel. Machines not typically used for runway work helped achieve the paving pace needed to maintain the tight schedule. For the first few lifts, crews used large 10-meter screeds. “That was an innovation because they’re typically only used in road construction environments,” Grams explains, noting that YVR personnel had seen them used successfully at other airports. “It enabled us to complete more paving in the short window we had.” The machines did, however, present challenges associated with GPS controls that proved to be “finicky” at times. “Over the course of our four months of paving we fine-tuned that,” Grams reports. After paving was complete in October 2025, the airport turned its attention to recommissioning the runway for full service. “That was quite an effort,” he recalls, noting that all navaids and lighting had to be recertified for Category III operations. Strategy, Safety, Service Despite the challenges of an intense schedule, Pathmarajah says the strategic teamwork among YVR, stakeholders and project partners resulted in a successful project. “Complicated projects have very little room for risk,” he adds. “Early engagement and early partnership really help with risk mitigation.” Some strategies established for the North Runway project will become legacy processes for the airport, Grams notes. They include the return-to-service protocol and safety management program used to ensure the runway was safe for use following every work shift. “Our focus in the operations team is to be predictable, reliable and resilient and ensuring that we have a runway system that will serve us in that manner for decades to come,” Henschel reflects. “The work we did extended the life of the runway so that we can reliably use it well into the future,” Grams concludes. “It will be another 20 years before we have to do any sort of major rehabilitation.” Proven, Reliable, Cost-Effective SCAN FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ezlinerarrow.com sales@ezlinerarrow.com Billings, Montana Orange City, Iowa (800) 373-4016 BENEFITS: • Marks up to 36” wide in a single pass • Accommodate multiple additional guns to be able to paint patterns and colors in a single pass • Exclusive use of latex paint, creating less runway debris Paint equipment built to optimize time, money, and safety.
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