VAA Spring/Summer 2020

VAASPHALT.ORG 17 MOUNTAIN EMPIRE AIRPORT Ever wonder who is the best? In the movie clas- sic Top Gun , Tom Sker- ritt’s character Viper asked that question to a fresh group of fighter pilots at the Top Gun school. Maverick, the character played by Tom Cruise, answered the question that he was the best. While he may have been a little arrogant, he was also confident. Since the mid-1980s, Virginia Asphalt Association and VDOT have presented awards for the top paving projects. VDOT awards have focused on top construction and maintenance jobs completed on VDOT projects, while VAA awards shine a spotlight on a variety of non-VDOT jobs. Over the years, the categories and criteria for VDOT and VAA have evolved and adapted. But, in all that time, there has never been a “best of the best.” Inaugural Golden Lute Winner In December 2019, at the Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Expo & Conference (MAAE), VAA and VDOT recognized outstanding paving projects in a total of seven different categories (VAA – 5 categories and VDOT – 2 categories). Submissions were evaluated on appearance, project complexity, and ride quality to determine the winner of each group. In past years, there was no “Grand Champion” or “Best of The Best” award given. But that has changed! VAA intro- duced its Golden Lute Award, to be presented annually to the overall best paving project within the Commonwealth. The Golden Lute recipient was selected from the winners of the VDOT and Virginia’s Best categories. W-L Construction & Paving, Inc.(W-L) in Chilhowie, VA, was crowned “the best of the best.” The Golden Lute Award was given for their quality paving efforts at Mountain Empire Airport near Groseclose, VA. Mountain Empire Airport Mountain Empire Airport is a public-use airport located in Smyth County, VA. Built in 1958, Mountain Empire is owned and operated by the Smyth-Wythe Airport Commission, which includes representa- tives from Smyth and Wythe Counties and the towns of Marion and Wytheville. Vital to the community, the airport is used for general, corporate, and military aviation. It sits almost squarely on the continental divide for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Mississippi River. Mr. Curtis Penning- ton, the airport manager, discussed the needs of the project stating, “W-L provided the upgrade that we needed, an upgrade that was mandated.” According to Penning- ton, “W-L is a local contractor, and we were glad that money spent on the project remained in the area. We are very pleased with the outcome of the project and expect 20 more years of use.” Project Scope The 5252' long x 75' wide runway was in poor condition with extensive cracking and differential settlement along earlier construction joints where previous exten- sions and widenings had been performed. The rehabilitation project, advertised and administered by Delta Airport Consultants, Inc., included profile milling the existing surface, three types of crack repairs, new 2 ½" surface, lighting, markings, and regrading edges of the runway safety area. continues on page 18 △