Last winter, the Metropolitan Nashville Aviation Authority (M
NAA) received some welcomed news from the Memphis Airport District Offices. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Nashville International Airport (BNA) would receive almost $4.8 million in stimulus funds, all of which would be used for the airport’s terminal apron repair project.
The project involves repair of the entire terminal apron, which is approximately 91 acres in area and is constructed mostly of concrete. Repairs include small repairs, partial depth repairs, full-depth repairs, full-panel replacement, crack repairs, and trench drain repair. All joints were to be stripped, cleaned and sealed. Pavement marking was to be replaced once repairs and joint sealing were complete.
In addition to these repairs, two separate areas of the apron, approximately 3.6 acres total, were to be reconstructed. These two areas are currently constructed in asphalt and will be a full-depth reconstruction with concrete. The work for reconstruction includes milling and removal of existing pavement, reconstruction of pavement section, minor apron lighting and signage relocation, minor shoulder grading, and pavement marking.
The MNAA already has in place an active pavement management program which identifies, categorizes, and schedules airfield pavement projects. The Terminal Apron Repair Project was a part of this program and was scheduled as an upcoming project. But with all of the work necessary to conduct this repair project, MNAA was anxious to get started. Fortunately, funding provided by the ARRA allowed the project to proceed ahead of schedule.
Getting the project shovel-ready to apply for stimulus funds wasn’t the easiest of tasks. “Due to the aggressive time frame associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the project was designed “in-house” by the MNAA,” said Emily Richard, MNAA manager of Corporate Communications. “Using available personnel and resources, MNAA was able to complete the field investigation, project design, and project bidding within approximately three months.” According to Richard, MNAA was the first airport, within the Memphis ADO, to have a shovel-ready project available for ARRA funding.
A total of five companies submitted bids for the project, but The Harper Company, of Hebron, Kentucky, was awarded the contract. Approximately 116 jobs were created in relation to this project. The work included milling and removal of existing asphalt pavement, repair and reconstruction of concrete pavement, minor apron lighting and signage relocation, minor apron shoulder grading, and pavement marking.
Now with the project near completion, MNAA is looking forward to reaping the benefits. “The project will provide the airport with extended pavement life due to the repair and reconstruction involved,” explained Richard. “Furthermore, the project will offer better customer service to the traveling community by providing the airlines a safe, efficient and smooth operational area.”
-Vicky Houghton