Thai government officials say Bangkok’s $3.9-billion new Suvarnabhumi Airport is safe for passengers and planes despite 100 cracks found in taxiways and runways and reports of cost-cutting design alterations.  But thanks to congestion and controversy caused by the runway repairs, the government reopened the 92-year-old Don Muang Airport March 25 to handle domestic traffic.

Located 25 km east of Bangkok, the new airport has the world’s tallest control tower at 132.2 meters, the world’s second-largest single airport terminal at 563,000 sq m and two asphalt runways of 3,700 m and 4,000 m lengths, respectively. About 100 cracks were found on taxiways and runways only four months after the airport opened last September. 

A two-week investigation conducted by a government panel of engineers concluded last month that the damage is less serious than expected. “Judging from our two-week investigation, I’m confident that the runway is safe,” says Tortrakul Yomnak, a chief engineer for the Airports of Thailand, which led the inquiry. Adds Suchatvee Suwansawat, secretary of the panel: “The cement base is fine. The problem can be fixed.”

Nevertheless, Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has stated that his cabinet has now decided to maintain two international airports because of the many setbacks at Suvarnabhumi.

After 40 years of delays, the new airport opened shortly after Thailand’s 2006 coup that removed Thaksin Shinawatra from power. Corruption allegations, political meddling, flawed construction and budget overruns have been reported.

Thai media quoted officials of the airport design consortium, led by Chicago-based Murphy/Jahn Architects and in-cluding TAMS Consultants and Thai-

land’s ACT Consultants, as saying last month that the design had been modified during construction to cut costs, that the new airport was “safe enough” and that 31 of 61 construction-related problems had been solved. ENR attempts to reach those officials failed. Chicago-based officials with Murphy/Jahn would not deny or confirm the reports.