North Platte Airport

Since 2004, Olsson has worked with the North Platte Regional Airport on numerous projects, providing them with a wide array of services.

The airport not only receives airline service, but also has significant traffic from business jets due to the nearby world-class golf courses. During the summer months, the airport's 12 existing tiedowns do not adequately meet its needs. In 2007, Olsson proved to the FAA that the airport needs 33 tiedowns and reconfigured the apron space to make it more usable. The apron was white-topped and expanded. Construction was completed in two phases to accommodate the golf course traffic. Olsson also provided design, bidding, and construction phase services. Total project cost was approximately $2.3 million.

Olsson has also provided airport engineering and electrical design services for the replacement of guidance signs (2004) and a taxiway seal coat (2008). Both projects were completed in approximately one week, thus limiting disruption of airport traffic. The bid prices for the guidance signs were less than half the cost of the previous engineer's estimate.

In 2009, Olsson designed a new parallel Taxiway D to Runway 17/35. Poor soil conditions required subgrade stabilization with fly ash, crushed concrete, and geotextile fabric. Olsson was able to justify 10-inch concrete pavement to match the new apron pavement. For Taxiway D, the constructability design and pre-bid coordination with contractors resulted in bid prices 22 percent under the engineer's 2009 estimate and 14 percent under the 1999 estimate.

The result of these projects was more usability of the North Platte Regional Airport. The airport has expanded to allow for more space during North Platte's busier summer months. The new taxiway opens up the airport, causing less traffic and allows the airport to run more efficiently.