Photo credit: Costplan Group
The 1600-meter runway at Nadzab Airport has been finished, with another 800 meters to be renovated by the end of the year before it is completely operational.
The final 800 meters of the runway, according to Oriental Consultants Global architect Satoru Ijiri, should be entirely improved by the end of this year.
He stated that the airport terminal building is halfway completed and will accommodate both international and local flights. He also stated that airport aeronautical ground lights would be placed to allow planes to land at night by the end of the year.
On a visit to the Nadzab Airport Redevelopment project site, Japanese Ambassador Nobuyuki Watanabe noted that refurbishing the airport is a big step toward expanding the airport's function and developing Lae's economy.
According to Amb Watanabe, the airport's expansion will increase the capacity of international planes landing and departing straight from Lae's Nadzab International Airport.
“I am very happy to see that progress, and I hope the airport will enhance the locals and to improve and upgrade the internationalisation of Lae and to develop the whole economy of Lae,” he said.
“Due to the COVID situation, the construction has been suspended for 10 months, but the construction was normalised at the end of last year and is proceeding very smoothly.”
The Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project is a JICA-funded project with a contract signing expected for November 2019.
Construction on the project began on February 4, 2020, and it will be finished in April 2023.
Reference: Wafi, Abbegail. Post-Courer (8 April 2022). “1600m Of Nazdab Airport Runway Done”.
