Contractors will work around clock on airport closure days

MEASURES will be in place to minimise disruption from work being carried out during next week's airport closures, Public Services has said.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be the first of four two-day closures of the airfield this year, as part of the major programme of maintenance and improvements now under way.

It will shut as normal at 9pm on Monday and reopen at 6am on Thursday.

That will give contractors 57 hours for work that cannot be done during a normal night-time closure. It will involve removing contaminated soil from areas close to the runway.

More than 7,000 cubic metres of soil contaminated through historic use of firefighting foam at the airport needs to be excavated. This is planned to be carried out over the first two closures, with the material being moved to a new sealed 'bund' next to the airport entrance.