HI THERE, JUST READ THIS THIS MORNING NOT STRANGE, BUT IF THIS CAME OUT ( IF IT COULD COME OUT ) 6 MONTHS BACK, IT WOULD BE A BILLION BAHT LAWSUIT.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

SUVARNABHUMI / TAXIWAYS, PARKING BAYS

Engineers: Cracks due to use of cheap tarmac

AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Engineers say swollen and cracked taxiways and parking bays at Suvarnabhumi airport are the result of the use of cheap tarmac, according to airport general manager Somchai Sawasdeepon.

Mr Somchai said engineers from the Engineering Institute of Thailand and taxiway construction supervisors inspected the airport yesterday following the discovery of two swollen and cracked taxiways and five aircraft parking bays similarly damaged to the east and west of the passenger terminal.

The uneven part along an eastern taxiway is 150 metres long and its cracks are 33cm deep. All the uneven areas are closed for repairs.

According to Mr Somchai, the inspection found excessive amounts of water in canals surrounding the airport protected by flood dykes. The level of water outside the dykes is normally expected to be about 80cm but at present is 150cm.

The excess increases the amount of underground water beneath the airport. Thus, the water has seeped upward through the 73cm-thick underneath concrete layer of the taxiways and soaked the 33cm-thick superficial asphalt layer.

The tarmac is of a common grade and rigid so it became swollen and cracked under the weight of aircraft landing gear.

"Due to a cost-saving policy, ordinary asphalt that excluded polymer was chosen. It cost 3,000 baht per cubic metre. Polymer modified asphalt that is flexible and endures the pressure better costs 4,500-5,000 baht per cubic metre," Mr Somchai said.

Engineers suggested the surface be replaced with polymer modified asphalt, especially on taxiways and curves that usually come under heavy pressure.

Mr Somchai insisted that the problem did not affect the structure of all the runways at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Yeah wasn't there one about cracks in the runway or something like that?