NDANG Field Maintenance Shop Parking Lot

The North Dakota Air National Guard has had a presence in North Dakota since before the World War II days. With a history like that, and surviving aircraft changes and down-sizing, it appears this institution will have a long life and future based at the airport in Fargo. When improvement alternatives were prioritized to keep their facility up to standards, a new parking area was found to be at the top. This 8” 120,000 square foot concrete parking pavement was constructed to replace a crushed concrete parking area. This wonderful improvement will solve many problems, including drainage improvements and the provision for a “sustainable” solution to future heavy equipment and machinery storage and management.

Engineering the project was simplified by the ability to use very flat slopes that are inherent in concrete pavement. Drainage was able to be limited to four total catch-basins with stormwater management onsite and control of releases to the existing storm sewer system. Smooth pavement surfaces, extra durability and economy were provided by the use of slip-form pavers throughout the project.

Sustainable Pavement Solutions – One of the primary benefits of concrete pavements come from the high reflectance (albeto) of the light colored surfaces. Any project considering sustainable solutions should provide pavement surfaces that mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect, which light colored pavement accomplish. This UHIE mitigation combined with 30% replacement of cement with flyash, provision for high strength in the concrete and high performance installation operations, will combine to minimize maintenance costs, provide long life and the structure to meet the institutional goals for the NDANG on this award winning parking pavement.