JBLM McChord Airfield

Concrete Arch Fish Passage Underneath McChord AFB Runway

The McChord Bridge Repair project was a huge success. The Department of Defense declared a National Emergency when air operations were impacted after the failure of the culvert passing under the McChord runway. Brice Civil Constructors and Tunista Construction came to the project ready to execute was fully committed to restoring airfield operation on or ahead of schedule. Despite some unique challenges such as the ground water being contaminated with PFOS/PFOA, COVID-19 impacts to the workforce and supply chain, terrible weather, and airfield paving/striping in the Pacific Northwest winter, the Brice Civil – Tunista Construction team was able to return the runway back to the Air Force ready for full operations 25 days ahead of schedule. They worked closely with Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to aggressively work out solutions to emerging construction challenges and found ways to keep the project moving towards early completion. 4-star leaders of both the Army and Air Force tracked this project closely and were very impressed with the construction team and the outcome. Brice Civil Constructors and Tunista Construction earned and deserved an Outstanding CPARS rating. 

The project was a design-build contract to perform emergency repairs to the runway at McChord Field.

The scope of work included demolition and removal of two, 12-foot diameter, 1,800 foot-long steel culverts installed during the 1950’s as part of an airfield expansion.

Diversion of Clover Creek through 32,000 feet of 18-inch HDPE pipe utilizing a combination of 32 electric and Diesel-electric pumps capable of 331 CFS.

Excavation of 300,000 CY of soils (300-foot wide, 30-feet deep) and 240,000 CY of backfill. Installation of 27,000 CY of bridge bedding and streambed gravels.

Dewatering and treatment of over 850 million gallons of PFOS/PFOA contaminated groundwater.

Installation of a 50-foot wide, 1,800 foot-long fish BEBO bridge fish passage totaling over 7,000 CY of concrete.

7,000 tons of repaving and restoration of the runway, taxiway, and apron. Restoration of over 60 acres of disturbed airfield.

Project Info

Contractor:
Brice Civil Constructors

Client:
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Engineer:
KPFF Engineers

Contract Type:
Design Build

Start Date (NTP):
6/25/2020

Completion Date:
9/15/2021

Original Contract Amount $15,022,779.00

Final Contract Amount:
$17,986,038.02