Summertime means project time at Eisenhower and Jabara Airports. Here’s what’s happening.
Bulk Aviation Fuel Storage Facility
The Eisenhower Airport bulk aviation fuel storage facility has been in continuous service since the early 1950s. Over the years, it has undergone modifications and modernization. This facility receives aviation fuel from the refinery, stores fuel, and dispenses the fuel into bulk fuel trucks for offloading commercial aircraft and general aviation aircraft. A study to repair and modernize the fuel farm began in 2018.
During project planning, staff determined that the best strategy for the facility was to use a construction manager at‐risk (CMAR) delivery process. The CMAR process allowed the contractor to review designs and provide input, leading to a high‐quality design. The Airport Authority had a high level of cost control from the project’s start.
The KEAR Civil Corporation provided all operation and maintenance manuals for the project. Currier and Company, the project’s design consultant, assisted Airport staff with the development of inclusive operator procedures criteria for the BFP.
The recently completed, three‐phased project that began in early 2020 has been the most extensive and expensive to date, with a price tag of $5.6 million.
Pavement Projects
The Jabara Pavement Rehabilitation project is winding down with the last anticipated airfield closures occurring from 7:00 pm on August 12 through 6:00 am on August 16. A second weekend closure is scheduled for August 19-23. This project required the replacement of numerous concrete panels on the runway thus requiring repainting of the required regulatory markings in certain runway zones. It was also necessary to replace all runway markings that will leave a uniform appearance, and enhance the safety of night-time operations due to marking and reflective uniformity. Snodgrass Construction performed concrete pavement panel replacement, patches, diamond grinding, and segmented circle and primary wind cone relocation in three, 83-hour complete airfield closure events. The project cost $842,000 and was funded with a combination of KDOT Grants and Airport revenues funded this project. The project was extended and the budget increased to address pavement markings on the runway to maintain safe operations.
The General Aviation ramp at Eisenhower Airport is undergoing a much-needed reconstruction and expansion project. Extensive pre‐work meetings with tenants, the Federal Aviation Administration, Airport staff and the staff from Garver LLC, the engineering firm for the project, have prepared all involved parties for the anticipated interruptions that are necessary to complete the project. Pearson Construction is the contractor on the project. The project has finished its first 73 days of construction activity and is scheduled to take 18 months to complete. Once complete, the GA Apron will double in size to allow more aircraft parking, safer movement on the apron by aircraft and safety/service vehicles, and prepare for future EPA requirements, all while removing/replacing pavement that is over 50 years old. This reconstruction will allow Airport Staff to focus on maintenance of other areas on the airport. The project cost $23,708,400 and was funded with a combination of AIP funds and airport revenue.
Eisenhower National Airport is undergoing a Street Preservation project with all streets on the campus either being crack sealed, surface sealed, pavement patching, with asphalt overlay. The project is scheduled to be completed within the 2022 calendar year. The contractor on the project is Pearson Construction; project cost is $3,152,000 and is funded with Airport revenue.
Technology
In partnership with AT&T, the Airport is expanding its communications infrastructure. Through this expansion, internet service providers will have more convenient and secure entry points and providers will be able to offer fiber‐optic internet services to Airport tenants. Several years of planning have culminated in this project.
IdeaTek, a locally owned internet service provider, has signed an agreement with the Wichita Airport Authority. This agreement will allow IdeaTek to provide fiber optic internet connectivity to the Airport and its tenants. As a result of this agreement, the City of Wichita’s IT Department will be able to replace the business connection between the Airport’s campus and City Hall.
