Stansted Airport's single runway is to be fully resurfaced in a five-month programme, beginning this weekend.
The work on the 3km-long runway will be managed by engineering firm Lagan, and will take place at night to minimise the impact on the community and on airport operations.
Over the course of the project, approximately 50,000 tonnes of asphalt will be laid over an area the size of 25 football pitches, and 1,300 runway lights will be replaced with energy-efficient LEDs.
Work will be carried out five nights a week, between Saturday and Wednesday.
For the first 11 weeks, the runway will be closed between midnight and 6am, while in phase two it will remain open but at a reduced length to allow flights to safely continuing operating.
Stansted Airport's planning and development director Neil Thompson said: "During just six working hours each night, we will need to remove and replace around 100 metres of runway surface before safely re-opening it before the first flight is scheduled to take-off in the morning.
"The whole project has been meticulously planned, and we aim to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible to limit the disruption on the operation of the airport and minimise any impacts for our local community."
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