Runway End Safety Area (RESA)

Safety improvements at YLW Airport in Kelowna, British Columbia included construction of new runway end safety areas (RESAs) on both the north and south ends of the runway that would provide adequate support for planes while helping to decrease their speed. The north end RESA presented a cost saving opportunity using Tensar InterAx geogrid to construct the RESA with less material and in less time than with traditional undercut and fill construction.

Tensar worked with the project engineer to test the soil subgrade through test pits and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) tests. By including a layer of NX850 at the base of the aggregate, the thickness required was reduced by nearly 50%. Since this is an active runway, schedule and safety was a primary concern. Using Tensar InterAxgeogrid allowed the contractor to finish construction more quickly. Plate load testing was performed on three test sections prior to construction to field validate that the design met the specified bearing capacity requirements.