HIAL completes £5.3m coastal protection project at Stornoway airport

The £5.3m programme by Highland and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) saw over 36,000 tonnes of rock armour placed and landscaped on the beach sides of the runway embankment. The completed project consists of a three-quarter mile stretch between the villages of Branahuie and Melbost.

Monitoring by HIAL identified the need for the essential work to be undertaken and a public consultation was held in Stornoway in 2021. Without urgent restoration, the loss of the sand dunes which shield the airfield and taxiway would ultimately have put the airport at risk of flooding during severe weather and storm conditions.

Engineering contractors determined that placing additional rock armour and protecting the seaward face of the dunes by constructing reno mattresses (a type of steel, wire-mesh basket) was the best solution.

Duncan C M Smith, HIAL General Manager West working at Stornoway airport, said: “We are extremely pleased that these works have been completed and which will be of massive benefit to the long-term future of Stornoway Airport and to the coastal defences of the Western Isles.

“When we noticed that coastal erosion was becoming a significant issue on the north-east quartile of the beach next to the airport, plans were swiftly put in place to restore the coastal defences and maintain airport infrastructure which would all have been at risk if the work had not been carried out.”

Duncan added: “The completion of the 16-month project has provided the solution needed to protect our airport infrastructure and surrounding area from erosion for decades to come.”

Kevin O’Leary, HIAL Chief Operating Officer, said: “This project was an extremely important one as part of our ongoing commitment to support essential connectivity for our island communities. The significant investment made will protect the long-term future of the airport and vital air connections for the communities of the Western Isles.”

The completed infrastructure consists of a ‘mattress’ of almost 22,000 tonnes of stone being created beneath the beach, with 2,081 baskets filled with stone built on top to reinforce the beach and stop the sea from eroding the land. In addition to this, a further 14,058 tonnes of rock armour stone was positioned on the headland at end of runway.

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 19th October 2023 | Issue #720