AIRPORT SLOPE REPAIRS
An Engineering Excellence Award-Winning Project

S&ME was able to quickly and economically repair a massive landslide that had closed the airport service road, with the use of geosynthetic materials in a state-of-the-art engineering technique. The road led to aircraft hangars, the fuel storage area and a National Guard Armory.

S&ME’s innovative use of geosynthetically reinforced embankment slope construction was a new design concept, particularly at airport facilities where more traditional approaches are used. The slope failure, a landslide that moved 10,000 to 15,000 cubic yards of earth, carried away a section of the service road and threatened the foundation of an aircraft hangar. Large cracks had formed in the hangar floor, and cars were being detoured from the service road onto an active aircraft taxiway, creating an unsafe situation and jeopardizing airport security.

S&ME restored the integrity of the hangar foundation before slope reconstruction began.

"Not only did S&ME exceed all deadlines but their innovative design incorporating the latest geotechnical materials provided the Owner with a substantial cost savings when compared to conventional slope repair techniques."

—Edward L. Beale, P.E., President
Delta Airport Consultants