b'54 SBN RUNWAYShandling and ground crews. Those people had a very slippery,to be undercut as deep as 20 to 30 feet in some sections, notes icy environment to work in, Shaffer notes.Shaffer. Crews removed and relocated the problematic material, To correct this, the apron was lowered as much as 7 feet inand then brought in more suitable fill, which also underwent some areas and sloped away from the building. That was adensity and compaction tests as it was built up to produce a pretty dramatic cut, Shaffer emphasizes. The entire ramp wasmore even surface. rebuilt in sections to ensure proper grade and structural integrity.Fortunately, subcontractor R&R Excavating, led by Reith Reilly, Now, the surface drains readily and ice does not accumulatehad experience in mitigating soils similar to those encountered. It around the gates. was a good collaborative team approach to ensure it all got taken Butler, Fairman & Seufert oversaw materials testing duringcare of, Shaffer remarks.Phases A and B, including soil density analysis to ensure aThroughout the process, ensuring that slope changes were suitable platform. Unanticipated soil issues required the materialwell-marked and clearly delineated was crucial for safety.With work areas so close to airline operations, disruption was unavoidable. We had to take those gates out of service to cut that much dirt out and lower the pavement, Shaffer explains. Temporarily relocating REGENERATIVE AIR SWEEPERSboarding bridges and then transitioning them For a Deeper Clean to the new, different elevation significantly complicated matters. To accommodate the work, SBN shut down four gates at a time, coordinating closely with airlines to rearrange schedules. Fixing the apron slope in the least amount of time possible was a key priority. It was difficult accepting the same volume of operations through the construction process, notes Mac Carthaigh. It was challenging at times, Daigle agrees. But I think our Ops team did such a great job in communicating with the airlines. Other Airfield ImprovementsDuring Phase B in 2022, the airport added a centralized deicing pad. Previously, aircraft Photo courtesy of Meridian Regional Airport were deiced at the gates. When choosing the new location, project ROUTINE CLEANING OF RAMP, RUNWAY, & ROADS planners had to avoid the existing geothermal Removes FOD that can hide in cracks & crevices field west of the terminal, and initially proposed placing pads west or east of the Model 600 HSP Options airfield. Airport leadership, however, prioritized a more central location to provide convenient Chassis Mounted Magnet removesLiquid Recovery System removes access for both passenger and cargo aircraft. ferrous metals at sweeping speedsand recovers standing liquids, suchTying the operation into the sanitary system up to 25 miles per hour. as glycol. was also a factor, making the ideal location just northwest of the terminal building. Lateral Air Flow Nozzle clearsRunway Sweeper, High Speed debris, such as sand, grass andPerformance. The new system allows drainage from snow from runways and taxiways. deicing operations and stormwater to be captured and stored in a 100,000-gallon underground tank. The glycol system is designed to allow for variable discharge rates, as required by local wastewater treatment facilities, but currently discharges up to 10,000 gallons per day for quicker, more efficient winter operations.FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 800.258.9626|TYMCO.COMMarch | April 2026AirportImprovement.com'