Mead & Hunt was selected by ACEC California to receive a Commendation Award for the Napa County Airport Runway 18R/36L Rehabilitation project in the ACEC California 2020 Engineering Excellence Award competition! Each year, the Engineering Excellence Awards competition recognizes AEC firms for projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation and complexity, bringing value to the profession and our communities.
The Napa County Runway Rehabilitation project involved the rehabilitation of three separate runways at the airport. The original World War II-era runways had stood the test of time, but renovation was definitely in order.
Numerous project challenges and tight timeframes combined to make this project demanding—our team worked collaboratively with all project stakeholders to find innovative solutions to each project challenge.
The presence of detrimental subgrade soils throughout the site meant that the team had to collaborate with the County and FAA to develop a cost-effective and constructible solution. Due to the sensitive environment and surrounding critical habitat zones, the team developed a thorough environmental technical study to meet FAA requirements and minimize negative grading impacts.
A complex phased construction schedule allowed construction to progress efficiently and the airport to remain operational during the busy summer months. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) documented the project site with pictures and video, which have been effectively used for public outreach.
According to Greg Baer, Napa County Airport Manager,
“Mead & Hunt proactively developed a complex yet workable phasing plan that minimized daily operational impacts for the Airport. This, combined with their seamlessly-integrated FAA coordination throughout design, contributed to a smooth and successful process for all involved.”
Congratulations to all involved with this needed project! Your work allows Napa County Airport to continue serving the community for years to come.