When taking off or landing at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), the pavement underfoot might be an afterthought. However, beneath lies intricate engineering crucial for flight safety and utility support across the airfield. As part of the Journey With AUS airport expansion program, the Midfield Taxiways project aims to enhance AUS with new taxiways, extensive utilities, and more. Airfield Project Manager Samantha Pinto provided insights into this foundational expansion.
Samantha Pinto has a long-standing passion for aviation, leading her to specialize in runway and airfield pavement design. “My heart beats for aviation; I love the airfield. I have jet fuel running through my veins,” she said. Her career began as a Civil Engineer focused on airfield design before moving into aviation project management at major international airports like Toronto Pearson and Hartsfield Jackson in Atlanta. “Austin has a really exciting program in terms of what we’re trying to build, and the speed in which we are trying to accomplish it all,” she noted.
The Midfield Taxiways project involves constructing two new parallel taxiways connecting the east and west sides of the airfield, along with several smaller connector taxiways. These taxiways facilitate aircraft movement between runways, terminals, and other facilities. The current taxiways will be relocated to make way for Concourse B, a new 20+ gate midfield concourse designed to meet long-term passenger demand.
“The sheer size of the project is incredible,” Pinto remarked about the over two miles of new taxiways involved. Beyond paving, the project includes elements such as two aircraft-rated taxiway bridges, new utilities, sustainability initiatives, lighting upgrades, and more.
The project's two taxiway bridges will enable simultaneous plane travel on taxiways while vehicles cross underneath—an uncommon feature at most airports. Massive utility structures large enough for people or cars will also be installed under these new taxiways.
In terms of sustainability, a reclaimed water pipeline and refill station will be constructed to use reclaimed water instead of potable water during construction. This initiative aligns with broader sustainability goals within the Journey With AUS program.
Lighting improvements include replacing AUS’s Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (SMGCS) for better navigation during low visibility conditions and installing new in-pavement lights capable of supporting large aircraft.
Having completed its design phase, Midfield Taxiways is now moving forward with permitting from the City of Austin and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Construction is set to begin this fall in multiple phases starting with groundwork like rerouting roads and temporary utilities.
Construction will not affect flight schedules or passenger experiences significantly due to careful coordination among various stakeholders including airport operations teams and FAA divisions. “It’s part of ‘the magic’ of airfield design…to build in a manner that airplanes don’t know there’s construction happening,” Pinto explained.
Airfield projects like Midfield Taxiways involve unique considerations compared to other civil engineering projects due to factors such as dynamic aircraft loads and environmental requirements. The team utilized federal, state, and local guidelines alongside detailed engineering calculations to ensure future-proofing for decades ahead.
Pinto emphasized that designing infrastructure capable of supporting heavy aircraft traffic requires innovative solutions: “It's really cool to see what goes into building something that could support a Boeing 777.”
Ultimately, delivering complex projects like Midfield Taxiways excites Pinto: “This project is going to supply something that will be around for a long time…and that’s ultimately why we have an airport!”