In Crisis!

Can't believe what they have done with the construction and operation in this multi-billion-baht airport.
What's in the SWAMP is bursting out!

Due to the pavement cracks on runways, taxiways and tarmacs scattered over about 100,000 square metres of the airfield, there was an urgent repair on January 25, 2007.
It caused "four incoming flights had to be diverted to U-tapao airport in Chon Buri province for refuelling after circling over Suvarnabhumi for longer than 30 minutes.
The work forced approaching aircraft to queue up for the remaining eastern runway. Thai Airways International had its planes loaded with fuel to cope with the traffic congestion."
("Airport has safety pass held back", Bangkok Post January 27, 2007)

Experts believe that the cracks were caused by shoddy construction.
Dr Sumet Jumsai said...
"For the runways, repairs to the cracks must continue, but Airports of Thailand should sheet-pile both sides of the runways along their entire length. This should lessen the subsoil shift and reduce cracks on the apron's surface,"

"In the long run it may be necessary to pile all the aprons. The new runway east of the existing polder [a polder is a dyked area], slated for expansion, might be built sooner rather than later."

"In this respect the polder must not be expanded, and the new runway must not be land-filled. Instead the runway should be built above flood level on piers in order to allow flood water to pass under it,"
("Rescue Plan for Airport", The Nation, January 28, 2007)