As part of a multi-billion-dollar airfield renewal program, WSP USA provides civil, geotechnical, structural, NAVAIDS/electrical, lighting and drainage design and construction phase services for the Southwest End-Around Taxiway. The taxiway reduces the number of planes crossing active runways and will allow passengers to get to their gates faster and effectively eliminate the potential risk of aircraft collisions. The end-around taxiway will also shorten a passenger’s ride time to the terminal after landing. Components of the project include a new 2,250 metres-long end around the taxiway 1,500 metres extension of Taxiway E, a high-speed exit taxiway, and new aircraft rescue and firefighting roads. The project also includes the installation of a new replacement approach lighting system (ALSF-2) for Runway 36L, realignment of the airfield operations area fence, and extension of major drainage systems for the west side of the airport. The ALSF-2 requires a man-way bridge to support the light poles while spanning a large drainage channel.
WSP developed and evaluated several alternatives for the bridge carrying Taxiway C across a tributary to Big Bear Creek. To reduce construction costs while avoiding impacts to a jurisdictional waterway, WSP explored using a traditional bridge configuration, a buried bridge, and a combination of box culverts. A traditional bridge would have required a height from the low chord to the creek flow line of 9 metres, a buried bridge would be only 3 metres from the low chord to the creek flow line.
