Contech Slotted Drain Installed at MSY Taxiway Extension
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Barriere Construction Co., LLC was selected as General Contractor on a $50 million project at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and Kelly Industries served as sub-contractor for site work and drainage installation.
QSM supplied drainage materials on the project, along with a unique solution manufactured by Contech® Engineered Solutions — Slotted Drain™.
Slotted Drain™ is a unique pipe which removes sheet flow without multiple grades or water channeling devices.
“It’s a unique product, and one that was really called for to remove pooling water on the taxiway and runway at the airport,” said Jeff Pippenger at Kelly Industries.
Slotted Drain™ is a continuous opening inlet that efficiently removes surface water. The grate on a standard 20-foot length of Slotted Drain™ will intercept up to 50% more runoff than most standard 2’ x 2’ grate inlets. Slotted Drain™ removes sheet flow without complex multiple grades or water channeling devices like asphalt dikes, berms and curbs, and it meets the industrial demands and regulatory strength requirements of airports.
The pipe is cut along a longitudinal axis, and a trapezoidal or straight-sided grate with reinforcing spacer plates is welded to form a 1 3/4 -inch-wide slot opening. The slot collects runoff and channels it to the pipe below from which it flows to the appropriate outlet.
Slotted Drain is fabricated from Contech’s galvanized steel for excellent durability or from Aluminized Steel Type 2 (ALT2) when more corrosion resistance is required.
In this case, QSM delivered 120 linear feet of Contech’s Slotted Drain™ to the New Orleans International Airport, where Kelly Industries had already prepped the site for installation – installation and connectivity into existing storm water drainage collection basins and pipes was completed in five days.
This portion of work, was part of a larger project that delivered extensions to Taxiway Golf and Taxiway Bravo at the airport.
In addition to the 2,300-foot extension of Taxiway G and construction of a bypass taxiway near the Runway 11 threshold, the project includes realignment of a vehicle service road, perimeter fence relocation, installation of new taxiway lighting, signage, runway guard lights, and associated infrastructure, along with relocation of other existing utilities.
Funding was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.
This project provides additional aircraft access to the East-West Runway (11-29). It began in fall of 2020, and completion is expected near the end of 2021. Normal aircraft operations continued throughout the project.
Slotted Drain was chosen for its strength, durability, and effectiveness.
“We installed two 60-foot runs, which allows water to channel underground in two directions,” said Pippenger. “One thing that is neat about this product is the slot portion of the drain remains continuous in width across the collection area, while the drainage pipes underneath increase in diameter to allow for slope. It creates a clean look, and with a large collection area on the surface, and facilitates water flow into the larger drainage system efficiently.”
Contech® Engineered Solutions is the nation’s leading provider of drainage, bridge, erosion control, retaining wall, soil stabilization and stormwater solutions for the site development at airports, civic, and commercial projects.
Contech’s products offer cost-effective site solutions with various load conditions, foundation requirements, soil and water environments as well as varied installation demands, as it relates to stormwater management, bridge construction, erosion control, and earth stabilization.
Contech can facilitate the design, development and the construction of cost effective airport applications, including: taxiways and runway extensionsm canal and stream crossings, prefabricated bridges, customized drainage and pipe solutions, erosion control, and stormwater treatment.
Benefits of Installing Slotted Drain™
Contech’s Slotted Drain is structurally sound, and supports H-20 loading. It improves drainage efficiency, results in fewer collection points and laterals, improves safety, is low profile, and it improves debris management, which results in lower maintenance costs.
It is available in 12-inch to 36-inch diameters in 14 and 16-gauge steel, and at 30-inch and 36-inch diameters in 12-gauge steel.
Call on QSM when your project calls for Contech solutions; rely on Contech for superior technical expertise, site specific drawings, solutions development, and agency/regulatory guidance.
In addition to Slotted Drain, QSM also provided one large precast man hole manufactured from SCI, one airport-rated ring and cover from East Jordan Iron Works, 18-inch reinforced concrete pipe, and A-2000 PVC.
Call QSM for all your heavy industrial projects – 855-469-2015.
