Terminal ramp construction project

Location: Spokane

Owner/developer: Spokane International Airport

Project team: Wm. Winkler Co., general and concrete contractor; Reynolds, Smith & Hills, structural engineer; Spokane Rock Products, ready-mix supplier

Spokane International Airport undertook a project to replace the concrete ramp around its A and B concourses, and build a new apron west of Concourse C.

The 19-inch-thick concrete had to be delivered at 140 yards per hour, and was designed to meet strict tolerances. The total quantity was more than 25,000 cubic yards.

A new way to prepare A-joint headers was developed that enabled the headers to be set in place with a forklift in five minutes. Under the traditional method, the headers took more than 25 minutes to set and required five laborers. The new method resulted in little or no break in truck spacing, improving the production rate.

Concrete was delivered in ready-mix trucks, allowing the use of Whiteman roller screeds, which also contributed to improved production rates and overall finishing quality.

The concrete mix design consisted of 20 percent fly ash. Unused ready-mix concrete was poured into ecology blocks and used for retaining walls.