Runway on Stilts
The New Paper 11 Feb 08;
'a unique runway expansion project of supported concrete over reclaimed land, sensitive to environmental and aesthetic considerations'
ONCE it was too short, too dangerous.
When storms and strong winds hit the island of Madeira in Portugal, the Funchal Airport often had to close its runway at short notice.
The 1.6km-long runway could only take small and medium aircraft, which hampered the island's development as a tourist destination.
But the situation changed in 2003.
That year, the airport authorities completed a runway expansion project which saw the existing runway extended to 2.8km through an innovative design.
Now, visitors to the island find themselves landing on a runway that is partially built on pillars and running across a shallow water bay.
The innovative airport runway even won an award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering in 2004.
It was described as being 'a unique runway expansion project of supported concrete over reclaimed land, sensitive to environmental and aesthetic considerations'.
The runway extension is supported by 180 pillars, each 3m in diameter and some reaching 50m in height.
It is around 1km long and 180m wide, and is designed to bear the landing impact of a plane as heavy as the Boeing 747.
There is also a huge car park tucked underneath the runway.
Naturally blessed with a pleasant climate, ambience and scenery, Madeira is an attractive tourist destination, located off the south coast of Portugal.
Part of a sprawling archipelago, the island is often described by the locals as the 'floating garden' for its stunning scenery and spectacular landscape of mountains and cliffs.
It's also known as the hometown of Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
