Project summary
A unique cable trenching project, airside on a live airfield
The owners of the airifeld within Thruxton Circuit near Andover in Hampshire required the installation of a new lighting circuit around the airstrip to aid the take off and landing of light aircraft. The existing salt glaze ducting had collapsed over time and new cable duct and cabling was required.
MJ Abbott submitted a proposal to carry out the installation using its specialist rotary wheel trencher to excavate through the existing tarmac over wartime concrete surface.
The project scope of works comprised:
- Explosive Ordnance Risk Management Plan and sonar survey to identify any potential buried explosives
- Trenches cut using heavy duty rock wheel trencher to a depth of 600mm
- Installation of 2,000 metres of 100mm black twinwall duct for new cables
- Installation of 48 no Naylor 450mm x 450mm duct pull boxes with anti skid covers
- Granular backfill and concrete reinstatement in trafficked areas
- Full tarmac reinstatement to all trenches in airfield easement
- Installation of cables to lighting towers.
Working to a tight schedule and being flexible enough to allow the airfield to remain in constant use was essential to ensure this project was completed with the minimum of interruption to the client’s operations.
