K12mil set aside for Tokua

By ROSELYN ELLISON
TWELVE million Kina has been set aside for the reconstruction and repair of Tokua Airport in East New Britain.
Work would start in January with completion expected in April.
Funding would come from the National Airports Corporation (NAC).
Hebou Construction had been awarded the contract.
Due to the deteriorating runway surface, poor markings and drainage among others, NAC ground operations manager Russel Paliau on Wednesday said flights into and out of Tokua had been downgraded to only the Q400 or smaller aircraft including the Dash-8 300 Twin Otter series.
“The repairs would include pavement works on a 600m-by-12m central section of the runway, cement treatment, asphalt resurfacing and grooving, line markings and drainage improvements on the airside,” he told reporters.
“The Tokua runway is 1,720m long and 30m wide, boasting a groove asphalt surface.
“It was built and commissioned in 1998 and designed to accommodate the Fokker 28-4000 series.”
Paliau said in 2004, the introduction of the heavier Fokker 100 placed additional strain on the runway pavement, thereby accelerating its deterioration and raised safety concerns.
“In 2021, G-Man Construction Ltd carried out pavement repairs to the affected area involving excavation and replacement of the base course and application of a three-coat chip seal,” he said.
“In May this year when the F100 aircraft started servicing the route, severe pavement distress was reported.
“Aircraft weight restrictions were imposed to allow for only the Q400 or similar smaller aircraft.”
Paliau said a 200m-by-12m temporary taxiway would be created to cater for aircraft while work on the defects took place.