(Ferrovial) Construction

Barcelona Airport

Execution of the works for Barcelona's New Airport Terminal affects an area of outstanding ecological value, namely the restricted area of Pas de les Vaques, demanding the adoption of a series of measures designed to reduce the impact of executing this work on the airport’s natural surroundings. Thus, for example, the most endangered plant species typical to the area were previously collected so that they can be preserved for the area, and birdlife movement was observed during the works, in order to detect any possible changes in bird behaviour.

Drying of lake zones in order to carry out the works was done by adapting the drainage works to the small mammals, fish and amphibians natural to the area, and thus reducing impact on these species. Aspects such as waste generation was also controlled using materials from the demolition of airport runways, re-using water from concrete plant settlement ponds, and by stabilizing site access routes to prevent dust and subsequent effects on plant and animal life in the area.

In the block 3 flight field expansion project, various environmental controls and actions were performed, the use of a recycling plant for demolition materials being noteworthy. This plant, in addition to its environmental advantages, obviated the need to transport DCW to the landfill thus saving on purchasing of aggregates. Stabilization techniques of the surfaces were modified and the use of volumetric mesh was planned, instead of concrete, for lining specific ditches.

Expansion of the Flight Field at Melilla Airport

During the expansion works, an exhaustive monitoring and surveillance programme was carried out, focusing particularly on such aspects as archaeological protection and transplanting of tree species which are highly valuable in ecological terms. In addition, an Environmental Quality Assurance Plan (EQAP) was drawn up and a project was designed for erosion prevention measures and landscape recovery and integration. A program was also set up for transplanting large tree species as a compensatory measure.