b'TAXIWAYSSFO11Another major infrastructure changeand the key factorAirport operations teams appreciate that the project was driving the schedule of Phase Onewas relocating one ofinitiated and is now complete, Lee notes. They know how the airports main-line fuel vaults because the new Taxiway Ddifficult the project was and how challenging it was for everyone, alignment conflicted with the existing vaults footprint. Initially,he comments. The fact that all stakeholders were invested in the project was designed without relocating the fuel vault andthe project really shows how the airport partners have a culture the new Taxiway D segment, but after feedback from airlinewhere we really work well with one another.stakeholders and air traffic controllers, the redesign was completed in 2023 to include this critical task.Green MeasuresThe former underground vault was approximately 16 by 16 feetAlthough there were not many opportunities for sustainable materials and buried 16 feet deep. It housed three large remotely controlledor practices during the taxiway project, SFO took advantage of those valves connected to the main 24-inch fuel line that supplies fuel tothat were available. In the pavement design, engineers specified the gates at the terminals. To create space needed to reconfigurea recycled concrete aggregate base material instead of a crushed the taxiways, crews had to demolish the existing vault andaggregate base, which is virgin rock obtained directly from a quarry. construct a new one 150 feet to the west. When we were talkingThe material used to backfill trenches and excavated areas also about relocating this vault in the planning stages, it was importanthas environmental virtues. We used a material called native slurry to communicate to the stakeholders what exactly this scope was,backfill, where we reused existing material and treated it with Hennig-Hance explains. Its not like you pick it up and move it. Thiscement as opposed to importing engineered fill from the outside. is a large, cast-in-place concrete structure. After demolishing theThat, in turn, reduced the amount of trucking as well, Ip notes.old fuel vault, crews built a new concrete structure that measures roughly 20 by 20 feet and is buried 15 feet deep. This work, criticalChallenges and Solutionsfor the first phase, was sequenced to be completed during theOne of the largest challenges in the taxiway project was simply wetter winter months in early 2024 and was accomplished withoutits location. This is one of the highest traffic operations areas, disrupting aircraft fueling operations at any terminal. basically in the middle of our airfield, Lee notes. Taking aviation to the next levelAs the worlds trusted infrastructure consultant, our clients rely on us to solve their most complex challenges. We are committed to help airports - large and small - deliver state-of-the-art projects and enhance the user experience./aviationAirportImprovement.comOctober 2024'