Albuquerque International Sunport Runway 8/26

Project Focus
The project runway is directly between the passenger terminal building and all alternate runways so reconstructing this main runway while maintaining traffic presented many logistical challenges. The project team designed construction phasing to maintain taxi access to the terminal at all times, while maintaining all runway and taxiway lighting and navigational systems in phase.

Project Details
Schedule & Complexity
This project included the complete demolition and reconstruction of the existing main 14,000’ x 150’ runway servicing both the City of Albuquerque and Kirkland AFB. Major quantities removed included 54,000 square yards of 18” PCCP; 550,000 tons of asphalt pavement removal by milling; 320,000 cubic yards of excavation for runway extension and infield grading; 45,000 lineal feet of 4-inch pavement drains; 588,000 square yards (270,000 cubic yards) of 18” and 16.5” PCCP; 106,000 tons of plant mix bituminous shoulders and perimeter roadways; extensive airfield lighting with 1925 in-pavement & edge lights; 313,000 square yards of safety grooving; and 428,000 square feet of pavement marking. The project also included installation of two military BAK aircraft braking systems.

Construction & Innovation
IHC used a dual mixing drum Rex Model-S central mix concrete plant with hourly capacity of up to 500 cubic yards to expedite the schedule. We also used a Guntert & Zimmerman 1500 paver, accurately placing dowels in transverse and longitudinal joints with automatic dowel insertion (DBI) equipment. The QA team inspected full test sections prior to full operations. This included exposing dowels to ensure that the methods and equipment met the placement tolerances.

Form paving was done with a specially modified Bidwell drum finisher, strengthened and with vibrators set to handle low-slump concrete to 17” depth and widths of 50’.

Nearly 500,000 tons of existing asphalt pavement was recycled on the project making it the largest milling and recycling project to date (according to CMI Corporation, the manufacture of the milling machines used on the project).

Quality
The project was built under strict FAA tolerances for the concrete flexural strength and surface tolerance. P-501 percent-within-limits with statistical incentive and disincentive determined acceptance. IHC earned $575,000 in quality incentive for excellent control of mean strength with low standard deviation.