Q2 2018

Quarter 2, 2018 7 CAREFUL PLANNING AND A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP among construction partners ensured the reconstruction of the Greenville-Spartanburg airport terminal and the ac- companying apron went smoothly. The apron and accompanying drainage system that replaced the more than 50-year-old pavement was not only completed quickly, but also resulted in a pavement that will easily handle the growing volume and variety of aircraft the airport an- ticipates in the future. Replacement and widening of the apron surrounding the terminal was part of a comprehensive five-year terminal replacement, says Kevin Howell, vice president and chief operating officer of the airport. “Not only did the apron ex- ceed its projected 50-year life, but our fleet mix is changing so we needed a deeper pavement to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines,” he says. Continual communication among airport personnel, airlines, contractors, and engineers was a critical component of the project to ensure the airport’s ability to safely maintain op- erations and to complete the project quickly. The airport’s biggest concern was speed of delivery because we wanted to minimize disruptions to the traveling public and our airline partners, he adds. The first phase of the apron reconstruction involved replace- ment of the existing drainage system. “The previous system was a cast-iron trench drain with metal grates,” says Robert Hambrecht, P.E., senior project manager at AVCON. More than 1,700 square feet of existing drain was removed and replaced with a concrete drain, he says. “The metal grates had been replaced in the 1980s but were failing again, so we proposed a new type of drain.” The 144 pre-cast slotted concrete slabs that covered the con- crete drainwere custom-designed andmanufactured tomatch the existing concrete apron joint pattern, says Hambrecht. As the old apron pavement was removed, a new slotted-PVC underground drainage system was placed to improve drain- age under the new pavement and direct water to the concrete drain. This new system addresses the problem with a high- water table that weakens the soil bearing capacity and causes premature failing of the old pavement, he adds. Reconstruction of the apron itself also required innovation, says James Peace, project manager for GLF Construction, an ACPAmember. “We removed the existing 12 in. pavement and subbase to accommodate a new pavement that ranged from 17 in. to 21 in. deep with a 1-ft. base of stone,” he explains. Because the airport continued operation during the project, only one gate at a time could be closed for construction in phase I, and two gates were closed at a time during phase 3. “The logistics of moving material and people to and from the construction zones—which are secured areas—required planning,” he adds. Taking Flight: Airpor t’s New Pavement Positions Airpor t for Growth Greenville-Spartanburg International Reconstructs and Widens Apron By Sheryl S. Jackson continues on page 9 » Crews were careful not to damage the trench drain or adjacent pavement. The adjacent pavement was to remain until phase 2. Photo Credit: Avcon, Inc. G R E E N V I L L E - S P A R T A N B U R G A I R P O R T