Taxiway “J” North Reconstruction – Tulsa International Airport

Project OverviewDescripción del proyecto

The Tulsa International Airport (TUL) continues to expand — supporting regional growth and the burgeoning local aviation industry. In order to meet compliance with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards, the Tulsa Airport Improvement Trust was seeking a general contractor to improve its runway pavements.

With the most competitive bid, Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) was awarded the $13.2-million Tulsa Airport Taxiway J Rehabilitation Project. This was a comprehensive project that included both repairs and enhancements to Runways 18R-36L. The runways vary from 14- to 18-inch PCC, are 75 feet wide, and a mile or more in length.

As with all aviation-related projects, it’s paramount to drive an aggressive project schedule while maintaining ongoing airport operations without disruption. This fast-track project was no different, requiring all work on the project to be completed within a 120 day window.

The project kicked off in May of 2019 and the team immediately mobilized crews to the site to begin the rehab on the existing runways. However, extremely high volumes of rain blocked access to the project site. Additionally, local sand and gravel vendors found their material under water and inaccessible for many days. This delayed the initial start of construction and the owner issued a schedule extension.

As soon as ESS regained access to the site and procured the necessary materials, crews began work at an accelerated pace. In short order, the team removed 65,900 square yards of material, graded 28,000 cubic yards of dirt, placed 51,500 square yards of aggregate base, and poured 32,000 cubic yards of runway-grade concrete. Even with a delayed start, the ESS team delivered a finished project to the owner just days after the initial completion date.

The ESS team worked collaboratively with the owner to deliver this rehabilitation project with top-notch quality. These results improved the safety of the taxiways and runways, and helped lower operational, maintenance, and electrical costs for the airport. We were honored to be a part of this foundational project that will help TUL continue its expansion for decades to come.