Airports and Aerospace Facilities Projects

Runway 11-29 at the San Luis Obispo County Airport was extended, and to accomplish the extension, Santa Fe Road was realigned.  The realignment involved the construction of a 1400-foot long embankment, entailing fills of up to 20 feet, to support a northwesterly extension of the runway.  The majority of the previous road alignment was abandoned; two connector roads extending east from the new alignment were also constructed to provide access to existing industrial parcels. Earth Systems Pacific performed a soils engineering investigation involving subsurface exploration, soils sampling, laboratory testing.  Primary geotechnical concerns were soft upper soils, the presence of fill and stockpiled AC/PCC rubble, the potential for instability during grading, low R-values and erodibility of the site soils.  To mitigate these concerns, we provided geotechnical recommendations for site preparation, grading, utility trenches, asphalt concrete pavement sections, drainage, and observation and testing during construction.  During roadway and runway construction, we performed compaction testing of base material, onsite sampling of asphalt concrete, and testing for air voids, stability, flow and relative compaction.

The project at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport entailed the construction of an access road parallel to Highway 227, vehicle parking on the airport side of the road, six rows of T-hangars for general aviation aircraft, and tie-down ramps and connector taxiways on both the southeast and northwest ends of the T-hangar area.  Additionally, three fixed base operator (FBO) buildings were constructed to the northwest of the T-hangar areas.  Both the T-hangars and the FBO buildings are pre-engineered steel-frame structures with metal siding.  The buildings have conventional continuous and spread foundations, and concrete slabs-on-grade.  The T-hangars are long narrow structures with interior partitions to separate the individual spaces.  Earth Systems Pacific performed a soils engineering investigation for this project.  Our resulting report presented results of laboratory testing, conclusions regarding CBR testing and preliminary geotechnical recommendations for site preparation, grading, utility trenches, foundations, interior slabs-on-grade and exterior pedestrian flatwork, retaining walls, pavement sections, drainage around improvements, and observation and testing.   During construction, our certified inspectors and technicians performed grading observation and testing and special inspection of construction materials.

The terminal and general aviation ramps with their associated taxiways are located off the existing main parallel taxiway and the Visalia Municipal Airport. The ramps and taxiways are constructed of A.C., over compacted native subgrades and aggregate base grades. Our personnel performed a soils engineering investigation for the project and provided geotechnical recommendations for site development.

Modifications of various taxiways and runways at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport necessitated the realignment of the Carneros and Tecolotito Creeks.  The creeks were rechanneled and realigned.  Reinforced fill was placed along the new alignments.  A gas line was also relocated.  Earth Systems Pacific was retained to provided field testing and inspection for the project.  Our technicians performed field density testing, and provided certification of grading operations.

The T-Hangers Project at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport involved the demolition of several existing structures, earthwork to construct building pads, cement treatment of areas to be paved, placement of concrete foundations and slabs-on-grade, and erection of 24 general aviation aircraft hangars.  For this project, Earth Systems Pacific conducted a soils engineering investigation entailing subsurface exploration, soil classification and sampling, laboratory testing of samples, and development of geotechnical criteria to be used to guide the preparation of plans and specifications.  During construction, we provided observation and testing services during earthwork operations for the building pads and the taxi lanes, and during cement treatment operations.  Additionally, we provided special inspection of concrete for foundations and slabs-on-grade, anchor bolts, and structural steel for the hangar buildings.  

Project AIP-09 consisted of the repair of the touchdown area of Runway 19, the placement of pavement edge drains, and the overlay with A.C.  The new construction of holding and tie-down aprons was also accomplished.  The damaged area of Runway 19 measured approximately 1100 by 150 feet.  Our soils engineering report addressed site preparation, grading, and site drainage.  We provided A.C. materials inspection and testing at the site to measure Marshall properties and compaction. The AIP-10 airport improvement project entailed the A.C. overlay of the existing crosswind runway (4,700 feet long) with blast pads at each end, and a portion of the adjacent existing Taxiway B.   

Project AIP-09 consisted of the repair of the touchdown area of Runway 19, the placement of pavement edge drains, and the overlay with A.C.  The new construction of holding and tie-down aprons was also accomplished.  The damaged area of Runway 19 measured approximately 1100 by 150 feet.  Our soils engineering report addressed site preparation, grading, and site drainage.  We provided A.C. materials inspection and testing at the site to measure Marshall properties and compaction. The AIP-10 airport improvement project entailed the A.C. overlay of the existing crosswind runway (4,700 feet long) with blast pads at each end, and a portion of the adjacent existing Taxiway B.