This project includes the reconstruction of the air carrier parallel taxiway, Taxiway A, to Runway 18-36 at Myrtle Beach International Airport. The existing asphalt and concrete pavements were exhibiting significant distresses and were nearing the end of their service life. Portions of the pavements required continual maintenance, while the rutting in other areas was so severe that the pavements had been closed to traffic.
The taxiway reconstruction includes 75-foot wide taxiways with 30-foot wide paved shoulders, designed to Taxiway Design Group (TDG 5) standards. The pavement section consists of 16 inches of P-501 Cement Concrete Pavement, 6 inches of P-306 Lean Concrete Base, and 6 inches of P-209 Crushed Aggregate Base Course. Due to the poor subgrade conditions, areas of new construction required 12-inches of undercut and placement of select backfill on top of a high-performance geogrid. Considering the limited runway closure periods and to expedite construction, 20-inch thickened slabs and bituminous base course were specified within the Runway 18-36 safety area. Due to the Airport’s low elevation and shallow, perched groundwater observed, the design included an elaborate pavement edge drain system beneath the asphalt shoulders. As part of the taxiway reconstruction, new LED edge lights and airfield guidance signs were installed, along with a new airfield electrical vault.
In lieu of reconstructing Taxiway A in its current location, the design proposed shifting the taxiway closer to the runway from its current separation of 1,040 feet to 600 feet. In addition to providing valuable terminal development space for the Airport, the shift in alignment would aid in the construction phasing.
As Taxiway A is the only parallel taxiway for the air carrier side of the Airport, the phasing design was a critical component of the project. Construction phasing was developed in the early stages to allow coordination with the airlines and FAA ATCT. The design phase also included a Delta-led Contractor Information Workshop. The workshop allowed Contractors to provide input on the proposed design, with an emphasis on constructability. As the project includes significant work within the Runway 18-36 safety area, the ability to execute the work during the nightly runway closures would be critical to the project success. The project is current under construction. Bid Package 1 was completed in March 2020, with Bid Package 2 scheduled to be complete in July 2021.
Photo Credit: Development Resource Group, LLC