O’Hare Modernization

New Runway to Open in Year;
Green Plans Seeing Blue Skies

by Paula Widholm

In a little more than a year, planes will be landing on the first new runway added at O’Hare International Airport since 1971.

In mid-September, Rosemarie “Rosie” Andolino, executive director of the O’Hare Modernization Program, says, “In just 432 days, we will be commissioning Runway 9L/27 R, and the air traffic control center.”

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The joint venture of Omaha, Neb.-based Kiewit Corp. and Pomona, Calif.-based Reyes Construction Inc. is constructing the $62.9 million Runway 9L/27R on the North Airfield. It’s a 7,500-ft-long, 150-ft-wide concrete runway with 35-ft bituminous shoulders and a 75-ft taxiway with 25-ft shoulders.

It’s just one of many multimillion projects under way as part of the O’Hare Modernization Program, which seeks to reduce delays, increase capacity and improve efficiency. Andolino says that upon completion, the average delay time would go down from 22 minutes to less than 16 minutes.

“The beauty of the OMP is that as each element of the project is completed, there’s an incremental improvement in delay reduction, capacity and efficiency,” she adds. “We’ll see those benefits increase as we construct the remainder of the program.”

$1.5 Billion in Contracts

The OMP has awarded $750 million in construction contracts and has approximately $640 million in additional contracts that will be awarded over the next year. Most of the remaining work will be on Runway 10C-28C on the South Airfield.

The OMP has completed the acquisition of 413 out of 611 parcels of property. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recently decided that the OMP could take title to and relocate St. Johannes Cemetery to expand runways at O’Hare, though opponents have vowed to continue legal action.

As the $6.6 billion OMP proceeds on one of the world’s busiest airports, safety and quick progression on construction are the priorities, while “not adversely impacting the operations of our airline partners and the traveling public,” Andolino says. “The challenge is the magnitude and the amount of activity all occurring in different pockets. There’s a lot of machinery along with airplanes, baggage operators and flaggers onsite. There’s a lot to coordinate.”

In addition to adding a runway, OMP is relocating three existing runways and extending two existing runways. A new western terminal will create a western entrance, include up to 60 gates and transport passengers between terminals via a secure, automated people mover. The program also includes wetlands mitigation and land acquisition as well as the construction of on-airport access roads and other enabling projects.

No corners are being cut when it comes to green initiatives on the OMP.

The program is setting industry benchmarks for environmental stewardship, and other entities are taking note. Indeed, OMP’s sustainable design manual was shared with the U.S. Green Building Council and Airports Council International - North America trade groups, and contract specs for the use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel in equipment were shared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Most unique is that OMP will realize several green roofs, including the first at a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control administration building. The 10,000-sq-ft base building of the new North Airport Traffic Control Tower will have a green roof, and there will also be 6,500 sq ft of vegetative green roof on the Mount Prospect/Guard Post 1 canopy.

Green roofs use plants to reduce storm water runoff, reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce building energy requirements and create conditions for a longer-lasting roof system.

Andolino says the FAA is contemplating the standard language in the FAA reauthorizing bill to include some of the green initiatives implemented in the OMP.

In keeping with Mayor Richard Daley’s goal of making Chicago “the greenest city,” sustainability has been an essential part of the OMP since the planning stage.

“In 2003, numerous city departments and LEED-accredited professionals created a sustainable-design manual during the design process, which is attached to contracts,” Andolino says.

The project also uses low VOC sealants and paints, and is installing energy-efficient lighting. Captured rainwater runoff will be used for watering landscaped areas, which reduces water consumption by 50% over conventional means.

Even the grass selected for the property is a low-maintenance. It’s native grass that requires less-frequent mowing than the alternative, and that reduces the amount of particulates put into the air from gasoline-powered lawn mowers.

“In addition, we’re keeping all the dirt onsite,” Andolino says. “We’ve moved 8.1 cu yds of dirt, which could fill the entire Sears Tower four times. It reduces the surface transportation, but it requires a balancing act to store dirt and place the structural dirt in one place and the more silt-like dirt in another place.”

By the time the project is completed, the OMP will have moved a total of 14 million cu yds of dirt.

Following are some additional OMP green initiatives:

Construction Equipment: By contract, all but the newest equipment is retrofitted with oxidation catalysts or particulate filters to improve air quality emissions.

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel: By contract, all applicable construction equipment is required to use ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (well in advance of federal requirements). Since construction began in October 2005, more than 1 million gallons of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel have been used.

Wetlands: OMP is replacing 154 acres of low-quality, inaccessible wetlands currently on airport property with 447 acres of higher-quality wetlands within various locations in Northeastern Illinois, at a cost of more than $44 million (no cost to local taxpayers). The replacement wetlands will provide a more natural environment for birds and wildlife and increase passive recreation space in neighboring communities.

Demolition/Construction Waste Management: To date approximately 90% of all materials from properties demolished to enable OMP construction has been diverted from landfills, resulting in the recycling or salvaging of approximately 30,000 tons of steel, brick, concrete and other materials.

SIDEBAR 1

North Airfield

2006 completions:

• American Airlines Parking Lot Relocation: Pan Oceanic, Bensenville, $1.9 million.
• Runway 14L Threshold Displacement (relocation of navigational aids and airfield lighting): Aldridge Electric, Libertyville, $20.1 million.

2007 completions:

• 90-in. JAWA Relocation (relocation of 90-in.-diameter, high-pressure water main): Kiewit Western, Omaha, Neb., $15.2 million.
• 90-in. JAWA Line Stop (hot tapping and line stopping to prevent interruption of water service to suburban residents and businesses): T.D. Williamson, Tulsa, Okla., $5.8 million.

Work in progress:

• Runway 9L/27R Site Preparation (earthwork, drainage and utility infrastructure for the new R/W 9L-27R, including relocation of Willow-Higgins Creek, and construction of a 360 acre-ft stormwater detention basin): Kiewit Western, $125.9 million.
• Mount Prospect Road/Guard Post 1 Relocation (relocation of approximately 1 mi of Mount Prospect Road south of Touhy and the replacement of Guard Post 1, a major north-side entrance to the airport for airline and airport employees and service vehicles): Kiewit Western, $19.4 million.
• North Airport Traffic Control Tower (construction of a new supplemental tower and associated base building for the North Airfield development. It will be approximately 225 ft tall to the cab floor with a 400-sq-ft cab and a 10,000-sq-ft base building.): Walsh Construction Co., Chicago, $32.7 million.
• North Basin Pump Station (construction of a new pump station for the North Detention Basin. Pump Station will be wet well/dry well arrangement with 3-3500 gpm variable speed pumps and 2-2000 gpm low speed pumps.): Walsh Construction, $16.7 million.
• Runway 9L/27R NAVAIDS (Navigational Aids to provide category II & III instrument landing capabilities for RW 9L and RW 27R.): Aldridge Electric, $15.2 million.
• Runway 9L/27R Paving, Lighting and Signing (Construction of 7,500- by 150-ft concrete runway with 35-ft bituminous shoulders and 75-ft taxiway with 25-ft shoulders: Keiwit/Reyes JV, $62.9 million.
• North Airfield ASR-9 & RTR P & Q Facilities (The project provides the installation of a new Airport Surveillance Radar Facility and Remote, Transmit, Receive Facilities to support the new North Runway 9L/27R.): Gibson Electric Co. Inc., Downers Grove, $11.2 million.

Future work:

• Four contracts, ranging in value up to $5 million, remain to be awarded. These include construction of various perimeter roads, service roads and security fencing.

SIDEBAR 2

South Airfield

2007 completion:

• South Basin Site Preparation (Relocate existing power and communication duct banks, construct Taxiway ZJ, install 60-in. and 144-in. storm sewer systems.): Walsh Construction, Chicago, $33.8 million.

Work in progress:

• 10C Berms 5 & 6 and 10L Site Preparation (Remove large soil stockpiles from future air cargo area.): T.J. Lambrecht, Joliet, $14 million.
• Runway 10L Mass Grading, Central Basin & Pump Station (Remove berms, establish subgrade for runway extension and taxiways; construct detention basin and pump station; install some utilities.): Walsh/Lambrecht JV, $91.8 million.
• Airfield Vaults & Associated Duct Banks (Construct new South Airfield lighting-control vault, expansion of North Airfield lighting-control vault and associated duct banks.): Divane Brothers Electric Co., Franklin Park, $32 million.
• Runway 10C-28C Mass Grading (East) (Construct South Detention Basin and Pump Station; fill in existing basin and establish subgrade for eastern end of runway; install some utilities to include large storm sewers.): Kiewit Western, Omaha, Neb. $149.9 million.
• R/W 10L-28R Extension & Taxiway Paving/Electrical (Install base materials; complete utilities; pave; install runway and taxiway lighting and signage; groove and mark pavement; install NAVAIDS.): Walsh Construction, $76 million.
• Interim Rail Relocation & Cargo Access Road (Approximately 2 mi of double track railroad north of Irving Park Road to connect with existing railroad south of Bryn Mawr Road.): Walsh Construction/TJ Lambrecht JV, $17.6 million.

Future work:

About $1 billion in contracts including: Demolition & Re-Profiling of ProLogis Park; R/W 10L NAVAIDS; Bensenville Ditch Relocation; R/W 10C-28C Cargo Area Site Preparation; FedEx Cargo Building; R/W 10C-28C Cargo Tunnel Extension; Cargo Apron; United Cargo Building; Fuel System Replacement; South RTR's R & S and LLWAS; R/W 10L Taxiways, Highspeeds and Crossovers; R/W 10C-28C Mass Grading & R/W Construction (Central); Railroad Metra South; Railroad Intersection North; R/W 10C-28C Paving & Electrical (West); R/W 10C-28C Paving & Electrical (East) & NAVAIDS; Railroad Intersection South to Metra; and Railroad Intersection Grade Separation South Service Roads.

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