The FAA has named Addison Airport (ADS) the winner of its Excellence in Construction Safety Award for the recent completion of a major runway reconstruction project.
The award recognizes the airport exceeded stringent FAA safety standards during the project, according to airport officials. The project team was honored with the award last week during the FAA Southwest Regions’ 2011 Fall Conference awards luncheon.
The runway reconstruction project included upgraded and improved approach and airport lighting, drainage and grading along the airport’s 7,200-foot runway. In addition, the runway received a new layer of asphalt and portions of the runway were reconstructed down to its base. Work at the airport included 1,263 truckloads of asphalt, 181 miles of new paint, 22 miles of electrical cable and enough grass to cover 35 professional football fields.
“This project was especially challenging because Addison Airport is one of the region’s busiest general aviation airports and was open and operating during most of the construction process,” said Joel Jenkinson, airport director. “It was a complex project with a tight schedule and a commitment to interfere as little as possible with the airport’s operations.”
“Safety was our highest priority,” said Jenkinson. “Contractor supervisors had to pass the airport’s Movement Area driver training program and an Airport Access course to make sure they understood how to operate safely in an active aviation environment.”
The project was completed with no incursions or surface incidents. The project was 90% funded by the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program through a block grant to the TX-DOT Aviation Division, with the airport providing 10% of the $11.6 million budget.
Located near Dallas, Texas, Addison Airport features an FAA control tower, 24-hour U.S. Customs service, and is home base to more than 700 aircraft ranging from privately owned Boeing 737s to Piper Cubs.
