Lambert W-1W Runway Expansion

Overview:

Geotechnology conducted Environmental Engineering and comprehensive materials testing services for the quality assurance of the construction projects for the W–1W Lambert International Airport Expansion. This construction project cost an estimated $2.2 billion. The Airport Expansion was one of the largest construction projects in St. Louis history.

The project area was approximately two square miles and included 2,000 residential properties and 70 commercial facilities that were demolished to accommodate the extended runway, which was completed in 2006.

Lambert W-1W Runway Expansion Project Background

Geotechnology performed environmental assessments in relation to the expansion. This included Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, facility asbestos and lead surveys, and third party remediation observation. Additionally, project specific protocols were developed to satisfy sampling and assessment requirements developed by the environmental regulating agencies. During the project’s pre-construction phase, Geotechnology worked to assess, prioritize and resolve important environmental issues. We implemented a task work authorization procedure to streamline the execution of 197 separate work authorizations.

Geotechnology also worked closely with the real estate firm selected to purchase property for the expansion. Based on environmental investigations, we estimated remediation costs for use in property negotiations. Geotechnology was also on call to assess and provide remedial design and observation services. This was performed as large scale grading projects encountered environmentally impacted areas.

Geotechnology worked in coordination with regulatory agencies with an interest in the project. These organizations included the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County Department of Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency – Region 7.

Comprehensive materials testing services for the quality assurance portion included:

• Providing full-time/part-time fill control and compaction testing of soil, aggregate and base courses. Soil testing services included in-place soil density using nuclear method, maximum density – optimum moisture content determinations and index properties – Atterberg Limits, moisture content, soil classification. This also included grain size analysis – sieves and hydrometer and borrow site inspection and material evaluation.
• Providing full-time/part-time field and laboratory concrete testing services. Assigned tasks included field testing of concrete – slump, air content and preparation of strength specimens. They also included compressive strength testing of cylinders, cubes and cores, flexural strength testing of beams, sampling aggregates and Absorption and specific gravity of aggregate. In addition, we tested concrete mix design, concrete plant inspections and certifications, concrete core samples, Swiss hammer tests, aggregate gradation test for concrete, Los Angeles abrasion test for aggregate, sampling, testing and approval of concrete aggregates, and pick up of samples for laboratory storage and testing.
• Providing full-time/part-time field and laboratory asphalt testing services. Assigned tasks included asphalt mix designs, Marshall stability test, density test, flow test, job mix formula for asphalt and Superpave technology. This also included compaction control, coring hot bin pulls/gradation, extraction/gradation, sampling, testing and approval of asphaltic concrete aggregates and asphalt content by ignition.
• Providing full-time/part-time field and laboratory steel testing services. Assigned tasks included tensile strength of reinforcing steel, bolts and studs and field test for epoxy coated rebar. This also included weld procedure review and welder certification and non-destructive testing of structural steel components.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Construction Quality Assurance testing; FAA Documentation and Acceptance; Geotechnical laboratory testing to support field testing activities; Soil, rock and rockfill field testing; Construction materials testing