NEW CATEGORY 6 CROSSFIELD TAXIWAY AT LAX COMPLETED ON TIME, ON BUDGET; ONE MILLION-PLUS POUND QANTAS AIRBUS A-380 BECOMES FIRST AIRCRAFT TO USE TAXIWAY
(Los Angeles, California – May 24, 2010) A one-million-plus pound QANTAS Airbus A-380 super jumbo jet today became the first aircraft to travel on the just-completed $88-million, 3,437-feet Crossfield Taxiway (new Taxiway R) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). After arriving from Sidney, Australia and taxiing to its gate at the Tom Bradley International Terminal, the aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute by two fire trucks.
The completion of Taxiway R, which came in on schedule and within budget, connects LAX’s north and south airfields, improves the safety and efficiency of aircraft ground movements, and alleviates the periodic congestion that occurred on the airfield. Taxiway R is the first Category 6 taxiway at LAX constructed to accommodate new large aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 super jumbo jet.
Opening of Taxiway R is a major milestone because it reduces airfield congestion at or near the midfield taxiways. This overall reduction offers substantial benefits related to the safety and efficiency of aircraft ground movement, including reduced aircraft fuel burn and associated air pollutant and noise emissions.
The project incorporated many sustainable elements to reduce impacts on the environmental both during construction and long term. During construction, contractor crushed the concrete and asphalt demolished for use in the project, heavy construction equipment used diesel particulate filters to reduce air emissions, restricted bulk delivery hours to minimize vehicles on the highways during peak periods, and reclaimed water for dust control.
Long-term environmental aspects of the project include two stormwater treatment systems to improve the quality of stormwater effluent leaving the airport. A portion of the project used pervious concrete, an environmentally friendly surface that allows stormwater to flow through, reducing flooding and standing water, as well as surface pollutants. The airfield lights for the project are Light Emitting Diodes (LED) that require less energy use.
LAWA received two awards related to its use of pervious concrete in the project. The Southern California Chapter of the American Concrete Institute recognized it with its Excellence in Environmental Usage of Concrete Award, and the Southern California Concrete Producers presented the project its Cornerstone Concrete Excellence Award.
