Madrid-Barajas Airport to Close Runway 14R-32L for 42-Day Renovation

Runway 14R-32L at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is set to undergo pavement regeneration and complementary improvement works, resulting in its closure for a period of 42 days during the autumn of 2024.

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The base amount for the works is EUR 38,686,310 and the full execution plan will span nineteen months from the date of the project commencement contract signature. The tender was published this Tuesday, and the deadline for submission of bids is September 4 at 23:59 (peninsular time).

As detailed by Aena in a statement, «the pavement of the associated taxiways (E3, E4, L7, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L7, LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, ME2, LE) will be regenerated, as well as their leveling. In addition, two new taxiways will be built extending from L3 and L5 and a new runway access will be created«.

In parallel, the runway lighting system, approach lights, and PAPI lights will be completely replaced by more sustainably consuming LED equipment, along with all horizontal signage.

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The closure of runway 14R-32L represents a significant reduction in the capacity of Barajas Airport, therefore Aena has coordinated the operation with airlines and involved parties to minimize the impact. «In this task, the work’s development has been meticulously scheduled and flight planning adjusted so that airlines can adapt their scheduling to the limitations imposed by these improvements,» they stated.

In the explanatory memorandum of the project, Aena states that «currently, the pavement of runway 14R-32L and the taxiways associated with it show surface pavement deterioration, which could cause problems with aircraft taxiing, generation of FODs, and the consequent closure of taxiways. This translates into the need to execute a new taxiway surface to rectify the current faults, opting for the firm package that will depend on the problems detected in each area, replacing the affected horizontal signage and beaconing«.

The last pavement update of the runway 14R-32L, which is 4,100 meters long, was carried out in 2014.

Madrid-Barajas Airport also has three other runways, 18R-36L of 4,350 meters; 18L/36R of 3,500 meters; and 14L/32R of 3,500 meters. In 2022, Barajas handled 50.5 million passengers in 351,960 air operations.