Utility coordination at FLL: abandoned underground lines Thomas M. Wilcox, P.E., Senior Project Manager (retired), HDR Engineering, Inc., Sarasota, Florida, and member of the combined Construction Practices & GIROW Subcommittee of the APWA UPROW Committee
e are currently in the midst of designing an apron expansion for the new Terminal 4/Concourse G project at the Ft. Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Florida. Some interesting utility coordination work has been required and it highlighted a common problem—what do you do with abandoned underground utility lines and the resulting congestion of utilities? Included in the project scope is the modification of the existing airport terminal (Figure 1) and its
underground utility infrastructure including apron and airside infrastructure and impacted landside utilities. The existing Terminal 4 Pier Gate layout and aircraft parking positions include 10 gates assigned to Concourse “H.” The new Terminal 4 Project along with the Expansion of Runway 9R-27L Project will require modification of the terminal building and apron area as shown in Figure 2 with 14 gates in a linear layout.
Our project elements include the following: On the Airside – New apron and modifications to the existing apron as required for the build-out of the new concourse and demolition of the existing Concourse H; also needed are some new utilities and relocation of affected utilities under the T-4 apron area. On the Landside – Construct a new Florida Power and Light duct bank and manhole system, construct multiple duct bank branches with at least one new manhole from the main AT&T duct bank ring network (under Terminal Drive) tie the Communications Centers for Terminal 4 and Terminal 3 together. Existing underground utilities in the landside and airside areas affected include:
Figure 1: Terminal 4 & Concourse “H” Existing Configuration 66 APWA Reporter
August 2012
•
4-inch natural gas line supplying Terminals-2, 3 and 4;
•
8-inch sanitary sewer system providing collection for Concourse “H”;
•
Lift Station and 8-inch sanitary force main discharging effluent from Terminals 3 and 4;
•
Stormwater sewer collection system – varies in size from 18” to 96” diameter;
•
8-inch water main supplying potable water and fire protection water to the T-4 area;
•
16-inch water main supplying the terminal core;
