Ørsta-Volda Airport
New road markings and epoxy protective coatings with Paveprotect

New tarmac and permanent epoxy road markings are improving safety at Ørsta-Volda Airport.

New asphalt and permanent epoxy markings – it had long been decided that the runway at Ørsta-Volda Airport was to be resurfaced. However, the project presented a number of challenges.

Extreme weather: the biggest challenge

As early as 2023, the Norwegian airport operator Avinor had planned to refurbish the runways at Ørsta-Volda Airport. However, the weather repeatedly threw a spanner in the works. Although the airport is situated in a beautiful location – right in the middle of the mountains – that is precisely where many bad-weather fronts tend to linger. As a result, the persistent rain in 2023 forced us to postpone the work.

In 2024, too, the weather put our team from branches 10 (Schleswig-Holstein) and 14 (Lower Saxony) to the test. We often had to stop work and react flexibly. Sometimes we had to finish early, other times we had to make a spontaneous on-site visit. We owe the successful completion of the project to the great commitment and adaptability of our six colleagues.

Long-lasting protection

The biggest advantage of the new markings on the runway and taxiways – particularly in the often poor visibility caused by heavy rain – is that they enable pilots to orientate themselves precisely and manoeuvre their aircraft safely.

The markings also offer a number of benefits for Avinor’s relatively small team. Thanks to their long service life of up to ten years, the airport saves on the need for annual re-marking. Whilst conventional solutions wear out quickly, our markings minimise this effect.

Furthermore, we have laid special epoxy patches on the airport apron where propeller-driven aircraft are parked. These patches provide long-term protection for the tarmac whilst also preventing pollutants such as oil from seeping into the ground.