RAF Marham Runway Repairs Enhance Operational Resilience and Capability

Vital resurfacing operations have been successfully concluded at RAF Marham, ensuring the continued safety and resilience of the airfield in support of Lightning Force missions.

Significant Investment in Airfield Infrastructure

The £3.5 million initiative encompassed a substantial area of 28,000 square metres at the runway intersection, which had last undergone resurfacing in 2018. The project also tackled underlying deterioration, necessitating repairs on just over 4,000 square metres of the pavement before the new surface could be installed. Additionally, the team resurfaced a further 675 square metres of Runway 05.

Due to the nature of the repairs at the runway intersection, all runways were rendered unavailable. To sustain Lightning Force operations, a taxiway was utilised, with contractor movements meticulously coordinated alongside Air Traffic Control and the Airfield Manager to minimise disruption across the airfield.

Efficient Project Execution

The work was executed by VIVO in collaboration with specialist sub-contractor Allied and four additional expert subcontractors. Including preparatory tasks, the entire project was completed in a remarkable five weeks—three weeks ahead of the initial eight-week timeline.

This project not only represents a £3.5 million investment in the airfield infrastructure at RAF Marham but also resulted in a £3.8 million saving by adopting an alternative strategy that eliminated the need for an on-site concrete batching plant.

Collaboration for Enhanced Resilience

Tim Fenton, Project Delivery Manager at DIO, remarked on the significance of these repairs, stating, “Completing these essential repairs is an important investment in the resilience of RAF Marham’s airfield infrastructure. By working closely with the Station and our delivery partners, we were able to tackle the immediate deterioration while also taking the opportunity to address additional requirements as part of the same programme of work. This has reduced the need for future intervention and helped ensure the airfield can continue to support Lightning Force operations.”

Flt Lt Steve Southward, SO3 Sustain & Regional Delivery Desk Officer for RAF Central Region (South), added, “Through proactive collaboration between RAF Marham, DIO, VIVO, and Air Infrastructure, we were able to extend the scope of the project to deal with additional required repairs.”

Optimising Infrastructure Investments

He further noted that by addressing these additional repairs while contractors were already mobilised, the team successfully mitigated future maintenance liabilities, avoided the costs and disruptions associated with a separate project, and bolstered the resilience of critical airfield infrastructure that is essential for Defence operations and capabilities.

This initiative stands as a compelling example of the advantages realised when the Station, DIO, industry partners, and Air Infrastructure collaborate efficiently to swiftly resolve issues and optimise investments in infrastructure.