The project addresses the need to renew a key airport infrastructure asset due to increasing maintenance requirements and their impact on the operational capacity of the airport’s runway system. The works will modernize one of the main elements of the airfield infrastructure and extend its service life by a further 20 years, reinforcing the facility’s safety, reliability, and efficiency standards.

The scope of the project includes the replacement of the runway and taxiway surface pavement layers, the comprehensive rehabilitation of touchdown and take-off holding areas, and the renewal of obsolete visual aid systems. In addition, a new network of conduits and associated cabling will be installed, equipping the airport with more advanced and efficient technologies.

One of the project’s main challenges will be the execution of virtually all works during the scheduled 45-day runway closure, an especially demanding timeframe driven by the need to minimize any impact on airport operations. Runway 18R-36L handles an average of 125,000 aircraft movements per year, making it a critical asset for the operation of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

To meet this demanding schedule, the project will require the deployment of significant technical and human resources. During the works, approximately 200,000 tonnes of asphalt mix will be laid, 17,000 cubic metres of concrete will be placed, around 500 kilometres of cabling will be installed, and more than 1,500 visual aid elements will be fitted. To support this effort, two asphalt production plants and two concrete production plants will be dedicated exclusively to the project.

Sustainability is also a central pillar of the project. All new airfield lighting and illuminated signage systems will incorporate high-efficiency LED technology, while a significant proportion of the materials resulting from the demolition of the existing pavement will be reused through advanced pavement recycling techniques, helping to reduce raw material consumption and the project’s environmental footprint.

With this award, ELSAN further strengthens its position as a leading company in airport infrastructure projects and reinforces its track record in highly complex technical works. In January 2024, the company also participated in pavement repair works on the same runway, completed without affecting airport operations, providing valuable expertise for the successful delivery of this new project.