Joint, repair and surface technology

Grooving on runway 11/29

Schwechat, Austria / 09.2016 - 09.2016

With this order from August 2016, ÖBA made the airfield at Vienna Schwechat Airport a lot safer: to minimise the risk of jets hydroplaning during take-off and landing, grooves were cut into the asphalt at right angles to the direction of travel.

Photo: Night shot; numerous parallel grooves on an asphalt surface; in the background, a bumpcutter, hoses and a lorry with a trailer — © PORR

Facts & Figures

Company

ÖBA – Österreichische Betondecken Ausbau GmbH

Type

Joint, repair and surface technology

Runtime

09.2016 - 09.2016

Principal

Flughafen Wien 2016 Consortium

Improving safety on the ground.

This technique, referred to by specialists as “grooving”, ensures that surface water drains more quickly. A special device called a “bumpcutter” was used. The ÖBA team worked in night shifts, and their high level of precision and coordination allowed this fascinating project to be brought to a rapid and successful close.

What ultimately counts in the construction business is successfully completed projects. PORR has many of these.

Photo: Bumpcutter at work during a night shift; section with 18 parallel grooves milled into the runway; four construction workers; a delivery van — © PORR

Photo: Construction worker checking the grooves milled into the asphalt by the bumpcutter — © PORR

Photo: Construction worker with a joint cutter near a runway light on an asphalt surface that has already been grooved — © PORR

Photo: Fully grooved section of the runway by night; in the background, a lorry with a trailer, a van, and two construction workers — © PORR