Myrtle Beach Grand Strand Airport

Project description

The Grand Strand Airport (CRE) is a county-owned, public-use airport located about 2 miles northwest of the central business district of North Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina. The name “Grand Strand” refers to a nearby 60-mile stretch of beach, while its code, CRE, refers to the nearby Crescent Beach area. The airport’s origins are undetermined, but it was likely built during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as an auxiliary landing airfield for Myrtle Beach Army Airfield, known as Wampee Flight Strip. After the war, it was closed and turned over to local government use by the War Assets Administration (WAA). From 1956 until the opening of the current Myrtle Beach International Airport in 1976, the Grand Strand Airport served as the commercial airport for Myrtle Beach and other Grand Strand communities, primarily serviced by Piedmont Airlines. Since 1976, it has been used for general aviation, primarily serving the North Myrtle Beach area. Until 2021, the airport had not undergone any intensive reconstruction since its establishment. Due to its proximity to the beach and general usage over time, the taxiways had deteriorated, requiring rehabilitation. Holt Engineering, the airport’s engineer, recommended using HUESKER’s HaTelit G50 for the pavement restoration. The existing ramp pavement needed surface restoration, and the resident engineers decided to install a new leveling and wearing surface pavement. To avoid extensive repairs such as complete removal and replacement, a pavement interlayer was incorporated into the design.

Solution

The project was publicly advertised, and invitations to bid on the work package were issued in 2019. The mix design incorporated the use of a standard South Carolina hot mix asphalt leveling and wearing surface mix. A key consideration was to execute the work to minimize disruption to air traffic, as the Grand Strand Airport services the majority of general aviation aircraft during the spring, summer, and fall months. HUESKER’s G50 high-strength fiberglass composite interlayer was specified on the project to provide additional strength to the new asphalt overlay and mitigate reflective cracking, ensuring long-term pavement performance. The installation process involved keeping the asphalt distributor truck close to the laydown unit, placing the interlayer into a hot asphalt tack binder to ensure adhesion to the existing pavement and bonding to the new overlay. As can be observed in the photographs, the installation took place during cool weather conditions, with the installation driver bundled up to stay warm. This highlights the ability to install HUESKER’s HaTelit G50 even during colder months or low temperatures, as long as the asphalt tack binder is kept hot. According to Horry County Myrtle Beach Airport Project Manager Kenneth Urbaniak, “Having never used this product, we were concerned about its performance, but as it turns out, this product was just what the airport needed. Since the reconstruction of our Taxiways in 2020, the Taxiways have shown no signs of slipping, rutting, or alligator cracking. We were so pleased with this product that we are currently using it again for our Conway Airport Taxiways. The Horry County Department of Airports Staff would highly recommend the use of HaTelit for any paving project a company may have. Once again, this is an A+ product.” Photographs taken in February 2024, nearly four years after the January 2020 installation, illustrate the excellent performance of the hot mix asphalt overlay. The pavement surface is virtually crack-free and shows minimal signs of distress caused by exposure to environmental elements.

Benefits

The pavement at the Grand Strand Airport maintains surface integrity, and Horry County airport officials have been extremely pleased with its condition over the past four years. Holt Consulting, the engineers of record, are also satisfied, as they are specifying HUESKER’s HaTelit G50 asphalt reinforcement for additional projects. This project exemplifies how HUESKER’s HaTelit reinforcing material can provide a cost-effective approach to enhancing pavement performance and longevity. HUESKER is committed to replacing or supporting conventional construction methods with ingenious and sustainable state-of-the-art technical textiles.