BWI Airport Runway Rehab

Project Overview

The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) underwent a full rehabilitation of their longest runway, Runway 10-28. This runway serves as a critical hub for 55% of all departures and is often used by the Baltimore Ravens’ team for travel to and from Baltimore.

Emery Sapp and Sons (ESS) was selected to perform a full airport runway grooving operation, along with some corrective diamond grinding for irregularities on the surface. As a result, the runway features a grooved surface that allows proper drainage and aircraft traction that meet FAA standards.

Along with the rehabilitation of Runway 10-28, an intersecting runway, Runway 15R-33L also underwent grinding and grooving operations. Runway 10-28 remained closed for use for the duration of the project, while Runway 15R-33L remained an active runway during the day and closed nightly for construction, often requiring crews to work 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. shifts to complete the work.

While working around active airport operations, safety became the team's main priority. Along with following normal PPE requirements, the project team followed all airport security requirements including getting escorted to the runway, license checks, vehicle inspections, and airport safety orientation. These safety precautions ensure that there were no disruptions to aircraft movement or airport personnel.

One of the project’s most significant challenges was coordinating and working around runway availability. Rather than having continuous access to the runways, crews had to work around released sections by the airport. It became clear that communication was key in order to keep operations moving. Working closely with the crews, the ESS team brought in additional groovers and performed corrective grinding in the available areas while waiting for other areas to be approved to undergo operations to maximize efficiency. This coordination allowed work to move forward, helping the ESS team complete the project ahead of schedule.

This project highlights ESS’ ability to deliver a fully grooved airport runway where safety, timing, and precision were the top priorities. Now complete, the runway will serve the BWI airport for decades to come.