Taxiway ZS Certified ‘Green’

The Epstein designed OHare International Airport Taxiway ZS was recently awarded a Green Airplane Certification for Sustainable Design by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). ZS was cited for its outstanding performance and lasting contribution to sustainable practices which is based on the CDAs forward-thinking Sustainable Airport Manual (SAM). The SAM provides architects, engineers and construction professionals, as well as vendors and suppliers, with guidelines for incorporating sustainability into all planning projects, from design and construction, to everyday operations/maintenance activities, and the activities of concessionaires and tenants at OHare and Midway International Airports.

For Taxiway ZS Epstein designed and prepared construction documents as well as performed construction phase services for this 792-ft. by 75-ft. extension of existing Taxiway K which was then designated as Taxiway ZS.

The new Taxiway ZS project at OHare International Airport was constructed to provide more efficient access to and from the east end of future Runway 10R-28L and the south end of existing Runway 4R-22L, to the core terminal.

The pavement section consisted of a 17 inch PCC pavement over a 6 inch warm mix asphalt (WMA) base course over a 6 inch WMA permeable base course over a 12 inch aggregate frost protection course. As part of the airports sustainability initiative, this was the first project to use WMA as its runway base course and shoulder pavement.

The project also included demolition of existing pavements, earthwork, erosion control, surface and subsurface drainage, airfield lighting and signage, ductbanks for power, lighting and communication, construction phasing and the decommissioning of a portion of existing Taxiway K.

The project design began in August 2009 and completed on schedule in May 2010. Construction was completed in Oct. 2011, 17% under budget.