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Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

amusingplanet.com

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Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#11

Post by chris_overseas »

therein wrote: post #6
chris_overseas wrote: post #3

The town I grew up in, Gisborne New Zealand, had an airport that had a railway line crossing the runway. Perhaps unsurprisingly the trains had to give way to the planes. https://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/08/gisborne-airport-runwa...

I find that surprising rather than unsurprising. After all, a plane can easily do a no-fault turn-around and can observe the train in a collision path from up above while the same cannot be said for a train.

Gisborne had a population of about 30,000 at the time with just a handful of flights a day. I'm pretty sure as a pilot I wouldn't want to be looking out for incoming train traffic, especially in difficult weather conditions.

Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#12

Post by m-i-l »

The runway of the main airport on the Shetland Islands (Sumburgh Airport[0]) also crosses one of the main roads (A970[1]). Access is controlled by a level crossing with barriers closed whenever a flight is taking off or landing. If you hire a car at the airport you get to drive over the runway (when the barriers are open) which is an unusual experience.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumburgh_Airport

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A970_road

Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#17

Post by miohtama »

mattlondon wrote: post #9

Not only that but there is a huge rock cliff face (aka "The Rock") towering over the runway only perhaps 300m or so (?) to the side of the runway and water at both ends. Quite dramatic approach and landing compared to most airports that are typically in the middle of somewhere really flat. That said I was mildly disappointed by gib - I thought it would be much more glamorous than it was considering its Mediterranean…

Gibraltar is pretty low key wahat comes to showing off money. Marbella, 100 km to Costa del Sol, is the European Miami where you will find Lambos, bodies and parties.

Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#18

Post by slim »

whymauri wrote: post #5

Fort Lauderdale resolved this by running one of the roads over the other. https://www.enr.com/articles/37614-south-runway-project-lift...

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport has this too. It's fun when you're in the airplane and it crosses the bridge.

Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#19

Post by londons_explore »

m-i-l wrote: post #12

The runway of the main airport on the Shetland Islands (Sumburgh Airport[0]) also crosses one of the main roads (A970[1]). Access is controlled by a level crossing with barriers closed whenever a flight is taking off or landing. If you hire a car at the airport you get to drive over the runway (when the barriers are open) which is an unusual experience. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumburgh_Airport [1] https://e…

I wonder how often someone mistakenly or deliberately turns down the runway...?

It isn't like they can really have a kerb or a fence stopping you...

Re: Gibraltar, world’s only airport runway intersecting a road

#20

Post by miohtama »

mortenjorck wrote: post #8

Seeing the headline, I thought that can't be right; there are plenty of airport runways built on overpasses over major highways. The possibility of an at-grade crossing between a public road and an international airport runway was not even in the realm of imagination for me!

It severely limits traffic, both air and land. There will be a tunnel for cars opening later this year. It is another kind of road rage sitting 45 minutes in a car in a queue when some dick decides to land with his private jet.
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