Originally Posted by Epsilon minus
BAA warned a year ago the runway's earliest completion date was 2013, and that was a "challenging target". The government had previously said it expected the runway to open in 2011-2012
OK all, I work with construction people. The new runway needs be not more than 2500m (the odd freighters needing more can use the existing runway). So 2500m x 45m width x 3m depth is about 340,000 m3 of reinforced concrete. Add the taxiways and that is say 600,000 m3.
That is in no way a challenge for a major construction contractor in one year, it is basically a "muck out concrete in" job. The plans are drawn and the land is identified. It just needs starting. I believe in 1940 the RAF probably laid this much new runway each month, which was done mainly by hand with existing contractors and resources.