I wasn’t criticising the airport for going CAT1, as you say the work needs to be carried out, I was just stating a fact.
Can someone answer a question? As I understand it, the problem is that the CAT 3 lighting that is set into the tarmac will be switched off for the duration, as it will be changed out. I assume that the work will start at one end of the runway and progress slowly down the runway. Initially during the first few weeks and for the last few weeks when the work is at the end of the runway could not the lighting be isolated allowing the majority of the centre line lighting to remain working so allowing CAT 3 approaches from the opposite end. Can CAT 3 approaches be made on a reduced runway length?
I appreciate the lighting changes colour towards the end of the runway so maybe I have answered my own question as to why the answer is no