#2. Third Runway, Sea-Tac Airport

The Port of Seattle has unleashed a gigantic upgrade and expansion to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport involving the airport’s terminals, roads, parking areas and other facilities.

Photo courtesy TTI Constructors Building a new runway is requiring millions of cubic yards in dirt work.

A major portion of the project includes construction of a third runway. TTI Constructors — made up of Gary Merlino Construction, Scarsella Brothers and Tri-State Construction — started work in May 2004 on the runway.

The runway project consists of five parts: property acquisition, embankment, airfield, FAA facilities and navigational aids, and environmental mitigations.

Some of the work includes: clearing and grubbing of approximately 150 acres, construction of embankments comprising approximately 9 million cubic yards, onsite excavation of 3.3 million cubic yards, off-site importation of 6 million cubic yards, and removal and replacement of approximately 5 million cubic yards of material for subgrade improvements.

TTI Constructors will build about 200,000 square feet of mechanically stabilized retaining walls, plus relocate South 154th Street and 156th Way from Des Moines Memorial Drive to 24th Avenue South. Also, about 1,000 linear feet of Miller Creek will be relocated, as well as instream and wetland area enhancements.

Other work includes: drainage, water, sanitary sewer and other utilities, bridge construction, roadway illumination, landscaping, irrigation, a treatment cell and two minor pump ponds, and temporary erosion and sediment control.

The new runway is expected to reduce flight delays and make the airport more efficient.

The new runway will also dramatically reduce fuel and personnel costs, saving money for travelers forced to stay at hotels as a result of delays.

Financing for the runway is coming from landing fees paid by the airlines, passenger facility charges, and bonds issued by the port and federal grants.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

Contractor: TTI Constructors, 9125 10th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98108, (206) 988-5051 Engineer: HNTB, 600 108th Ave. N.E., Suite 900, Bellevue, WA 98004, (425) 455-3555 Owner: Port of Seattle

Other Participants
City Transfer	CTS Engineers	Elcon Associates
Hart-Crowser	J. Harper Contractors	Lande Corp.
Natural Site Solutions	Parametrix	Pile Contractors
Reinforced Earth	SvR Design	Terra Dynamics
Transystems	Watson Asphalt