Location: Detroit Metro Airport - Romulus Concrete Contractor/Supplier: Toebe Construction Design Engineer: C&S Engineers Project Owner: Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) QC Consultant: CT Consultants
Taxiway Yankee South Phase II was the second portion of reconstruction in DTW's effort to reconstruct the taxiway. Taxiway Y is the parallel taxiway to Runway 4R-22L, the airport’s primary departure runway. The project, located adjacent to the McNamara and North Terminals, is located in one of the busiest portions of the airfield. This taxiway is the main thoroughfare for aircraft traffic on the west side of the airfield and services all the passenger terminals and multiple runways.
The project consisted of a complex traffic control plan as well as a very robust safety and security program. Project personnel had to cross multiple active taxiways to service the project.
The project consisted of full depth reconstruction consisting of full material removal down to subgrade. Placement of new storm and sanitary pipe runs were required, as well as a new cement treated subbase. The project also called for new electrical duct banks, sign foundations, and in-pavement lighting, all while protecting existing FAA underground utilities. Multiple layers of crushed aggregate base were used, some recycled and generated right on site. Due to multiple connecting taxiways, the project required a very detailed and complex grading plan to ensure pavement grades matched with adjacent paved surfaces and that the pavements drained properly.
Typical pavement cross section included 18-inch concrete pavement with a 22-inch thickened edge section. Toebe’s RexCon mobile on-site batch plant produced approximately 32,000 cubic yards of concrete pavement (using Type 1L cement), placed with a stringless G&Z S400 paver set at 18.75' wide, operating at full stringless automation. The project consisted of 28 days of combination machine slipform and handwork paving.
The schedule was demanding, and the traffic route and underground coordination was very complex. Toebe and the C&S Engineering team, along with WCAA personnel, tackled this with constant communication and teamwork. Working on concrete reconstruction projects at DTW is critical because of the impacts to FAA and air traffic. The project team worked collectively and effectively to produce a quality product.
