Rapid Runway Reconstruction at Fort Liberty

Standing as one of the largest military installations in the world, Fort Liberty (formerly named Fort Bragg) plays a significant role in safeguarding America’s national security. Minimizing disruption to operations is critical during airfield improvement projects, and CMT met the challenge of reconstructing the Runway 5-23 complex in just four months.

Working on a tight schedule, CMT led the design effort for the reconstruction from initial conceptual design and cost estimating through ready-to-advertise plans and specifications. This $81.5 million project included reconstruction of the runway, overruns, taxiways, and landing zone, all during a 120-day full runway closure.

CMT completed topographic survey, civil design, approach lighting, fiber optic loop and airfield lighting vault design with in-house personnel, while managing a group of subconsultants for non-destructive testing, geotechnical investigation, edge lighting, and cost estimating. Our team implemented various improvements, such as new Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement, LED lighting, and upgraded stormwater drainage.

The runway reconstruction was facilitated by incorporating time-saving features in the design to facilitate rapid reconstruction; these included a cement-modified subgrade to create a stable, weather-proof construction platform and geotextile fabric instead of aggregate base for a separation layer beneath the open-graded drainage layer. CMT’s expertise ensured the smooth execution of the runway rehabilitation, resulting in enhanced efficiency for airfield operations at Fort Liberty.