Conveyor Systems Moves 21.5 million cubic yards of fill

ATL ACI-NA 2004 Environmental Achievement Award Winner

DMJM Aviation is a managing partner of the joint venture overseeing the construction of Runway 10-28 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of two Airports Council International-North America 2004 Environmental Award winners.

A key element of this project’s environmental success has been the overland belt conveyor system which transported 93% of the 21.5 million cubic yards of fill required for the runway’s construction.  The use of the conveyor system prevented 2,600 tons of harmful air emissions and facilitated the reuse of existing fill material saving valuable landfill space and approximately $5.5 million in disposal costs.  It also prevented hundreds of potential accidents by avoiding on-road truck traffic.

However, despite this “groundbreaking” conveyor system, wetlands and streams within the footprint of the runway construction project are still being disturbed.  The mitigation of the disturbance includes the creation and enhancement of a wetlands preservation area, restoring habitat for aquatic biota, minimizing sediment, and riparian zone rehabilitation.

Through the DMJM Aviation-led team effort in the field, the wetlands area was completed in one growing season despite a late notice-to-proceed, and site conditions that were not reflected in the documents.