Grant to Nashville Yields 116 Jobs and New Terminal Apron

$4.8M project designed in-house; drew five bids

Work is nearling completion on the Metropolitan Nashville Aviation Authority’s Terminal Apron Repair Project funded by a $4.8 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project, which was designed in-house in order to be shovel-ready and eligible for the grant, generated about 116 jobs.

The Terminal Apron Repair 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 were 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.

Nashville 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, Nashville was anxious to get started. Fortunately, funding provided by the stimulus act 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,’” said Emily Richard, Nashville’s corporate communications manager. “Using available personnel and resources, MNAA was able to complete the field investigation, project design, and project bidding within approximately three months.”

A total of five companies submitted bids for the project and The Harper Co., of Hebron, Ky., was awarded the contract. Approximately 116 jobs were created by this project.

Now with the project near completion, Nashville is looking forward to reaping the benefits. “The project will provide the airport with extended pavement life due to the repair and reconstruction involved,” Richard said. “Furthermore, the project will offer better customer service to the traveling community by providing the airlines a safe, efficient and smooth operational area.”