Repairs, maintenance improve safety of base runway

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ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Elmendorf's East/West Runway reopened Sept. 16 after 70 days of repairs and maintenance aimed at improving the safety of the airfield. 

The runway repair - which began July 7 - was completed in two phases. Phase I was from July 7 to Aug. 26, and Phase II lasting from Aug. 27 to Sept. 15. The runway was reopened partially - 8,000 ft. - Aug. 27, with the remaining length of the runway reopened Sept. 16. 

Repairs and maintenance completed during the closure include: 

West End
- Removed/replaced 30 deteriorated concrete slabs;
- Grooved the concrete portion of the runway to improve skid resistance;
- Replaced all joint sealant on the concrete portion;
- Installed new pre-threshold lights on 06 end;
- Replaced all the joint sealant on Barriers 1 and 2; and
- Repaired all the spalled concrete joints on the concrete portion. 

East End
- Removed/replaced 17 deteriorated concrete slabs;
- Grooved the concrete portion of the runway - including the runway intersection - to improve skid resistance;
- Replaced all the joint sealant on the concrete portion;
- Replaced all the joint sealant on Barrier 3; and
- Repaired all the spalled concrete joints on concrete portion. 

The runway is inspected frequently to look for areas repairs and maintenance are needed. 

"3rd Civil Engineer Squadron officials and 3rd Operations Support Squadron Airfield Managers inspect the airfield daily to evaluate areas that require repairs," said KC Cramer, 3rd OSS Airfield Manager. "AFM and CE will then set priorities." 

Closing the East/West Runway required the use of Elmendorf's alternate runway for all operations, except for the E-3 AWACS, which flew out of Ted Stevens International Airport, and some airlift and tanker aircraft that were not able to use the shorter runway. 

Due to the amount of local air traffic in and around Anchorage, base operators coordinated air traffic control patterns to mitigate safety issues. In addition, Elmendorf did not conduct any Operation Readiness Exercises during the time the runway was closed, which helped mitigate the amount of jet noise which increased in the Mountain View and Muldoon areas of town. 

Elmendorf officials were pleased with the results of the runway repairs. 

"Considering the number of airfield construction projects and the weather we've had this summer, we were pleased the East/West Runway project was completed on time," said Dan Eckert, 3rd CES pavements engineer. "We couldn't have asked for a better result." 

(3rd Wing Public Affairs Staff Report)