Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) engineers have completed the design phase of a comprehensive Taxiway S reconstruction project. This work includes removing existing asphalt, replacing the base material, and repaving the surface. Spanning from the intersections with Taxiway N and Taxiway U, this project will provide suitable pavement for aircraft movement forecasted through the end of 2040. Additional design components include upgrades to airfield LED lighting, signage, and drainage system improvements.
This taxiway reconstruction contributes to the goal of developing PHL’s future taxiway system around Taxiway S, specifically the future connector Taxiway T and Taxiway P6.
"The reconstruction of Taxiway S will be a part of PHL’s aggressive multi-year effort to rehabilitate its aging pavement infrastructure," said Airport Assistant Engineering Manager Lee Sutanto, highlighting the significance and expected benefits of the project. "Taxiway S currently serves as a feeder to our busiest runway, 9R-27L. Taxiway S has deteriorated due to wear and tear associated with heavy use and increasing age. The project was coordinated with all stakeholders starting from its conception, just like all other major airfield construction projects. This project will focus on addressing pavement deficiencies at Taxiway-S as well as the construction of two new connecting Taxiways T and P6, which aims to improve overall operational efficiency.”
The project encountered challenges due to a tight schedule to secure funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The project team, with the involvement of the design consultant, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT), remained diligent and successfully adhered to established timelines and was awarded $23,621,380 in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funding. The project also benefitted from the support of various consultants, including ADCI, Arora, Sci-Tek, DY Consultants, and RDM. The construction contract was awarded to James J. Anderson Construction Company, Inc., and construction will begin in the spring of 2024, with a planned duration of two construction seasons, spanning approximately two years.
