(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris/Reviewed)
Charleston, South Carolina
North Wind, Inc. completed a $27.2M demolition and reconstruction of the North-South Runway serving Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina and Charleston International Airport. North Wind was the Prime Contractor, with asphalt and concrete paving subcontractors Banks Construction, Summers Concrete Construction, and RC Construction, and a Charleston material testing firm, WPC Environmental, providing independent quality control testing of materials.
The project required the demolition of an existing 7000’ asphalt surfaced runway, construction of a new 15” thick x 7000’ x 150’ concrete runway, new 25’ asphalt shoulders, addition of 1000’ and 800’ asphalt overruns at the North and South ends of the runway, replacement of a 950’ x 75’ taxiway, replacement of all runway and taxiway lights, electrical manholes, duct banks and cables, lighted directional signs, new under pavement drainage system, multiple large storm drain structures and stormwater retention basins.
Runway 03-21 at Charleston Air Force Base is now back open for business. Base officials celebrated the grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting inside a Charleston C-17. The plane then took off for the first flight on the renovated runway.
One official compared the runway prior to the renovation as having ruts that were almost like driving over an old washboard. They told us some commercial pilots would specifically request to not land on that runway due to the condition. Now the runway has been smoothed over. Officials say having 2 runways that can be used at the airport will allow both military and civilian flights more room to take off and land at the airport.
