Roadgrip Africa has continued to help improve the continent’s airfields throughout 2025, this time grooving the runway in the east of the region.
The long rains that routinely arrive in East Africa’s bimodal wet season mean that runways are often subject to extreme peaks of rainfall. This can cause issues for landing aircraft when hydroplaning risks are increased. Grooving makes a significant difference to the runway’s surface during this heavy precipitation by dispersing the surface water away from the asphalt.
On this particular project, our team grooved 200,000 square meters over the full runway length and three rapid exit taxiways. We grooved to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specified measurements of 6 millimeters (1/4 inch) wide and deep, with a center-to-center spacing of 38 millimeters (1.5 inches), and completed all works within 35 shifts.
As the images show, there is a vast difference between the grooved area of the runway and the ungrooved wet sections. The result is instant.
If you’re interested in learning more abut how runway grooving works, check out these articles:
