SOLUTION
Design and construction of a new airport requires years of planning, dozens of contractors and hundreds of stakeholders. Completing the process on an aggressive timeline demands efficient communication, strong relationships and considerable commitment.
Our team provided design, engineering and construction administration services on several project elements for the new Williston Basin International Airport, including:
- Airfield electrical vault: The vault is a critical piece of infrastructure serving as the power epicenter for all airfield/NAVAID lighting systems.
- General aviation (GA) apron and Runway 4-22: The 50,000-square-yard GA apron serves as the main location for private flights. Runway 4-22 will serve smaller aircraft unable to use the main runway in unfavorable wind conditions.
- Perimeter fence and roads: Perimeter fencing deters wildlife from entering the airfield, while roads offer safe access to airport assets. Four access gates — powered, cantilevered and rolling — and one pedestrian manual gate remain fully functional even in the most extreme winter conditions.
- Quick turnaround facility and parking lots: The facility and surrounding lots serve four rental car vendors. The facility also includes four single-occupant bays designed for light cleaning and car washing services.
- Runway lighting support structures: The medium intensity approach lighting system (MALSR) which direct planes onto the runway includes six support structures, offering continuous power from a location approximately 1,000 feet away from the runway end extending to the remaining MALSR and Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (RAIL) lights.
Effective project management overcame one of the biggest technical challenges of this ground-up airport construction: more than 30 contractors completing projects in the same vicinity. Closely coordinated work schedules and material deliveries helped avoid delays and conflicts. Weather conditions presented additional challenges, with outdoor construction only occurring between mid-April and September. Strategically phasing various project elements made the most of good weather days.
Close coordination with the city, FAA and local tribal council groups proved vital in keeping the project on schedule. Responsiveness and availability — coupled with on-site engineers who knew the plans inside and out — allowed for quick, proactive decision-making and problem-solving to anticipate and react to issues before they could become problems.
RESULTS
Despite challenges, including weather-related work delays and material shortages, Williston Basin International Airport opened on time and on budget. The more than 140,000 people who will pass through the airport each year will benefit from modern amenities and efficiencies, including passenger boarding bridges so travelers can avoid walking outside when boarding. A larger area for bag checking and expanded checkpoint space for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations eases the security process. Rental car operations are now on-site, as are operational support facilities including firefighting and snow-removal facilities.
The new airport dramatically increases Williston’s ability to compete for air service with surrounding regions, and boosts the economic activity and potential new development resulting from increased air traffic. The airport’s layout offers the capability for significant expansion should demand continue to rise.
