Denver International Airport renovation delayed due to flaws of the existing concrete

The renovation of Denver International Airport’s Terminal is already delayed by 10 months due to flaws of the existing concrete structures.

A report issued for the so-called “Great Hall Project” clarifies that the delay is 209 business days when the re-construction was initially supposed to last for 3,5 years and cost $650 million. It is mentioned that there are concerns regarding the existing concrete's quality as “preliminary test results of concrete samples taken from Phase 1-MOD2 yielded compressive strength results lower than what was specified in the Baseline Structural Conditions specified in the DA.” 

In addition, initial tests revealed further problems except for concrete's reduced strength. Aggregate evaluation showed properties that could result in alkali silica reaction (ASR) which causes the concrete's swelling and cracking. Back in 2007, one of the airport's runways was closed after concrete deteriorated due to ASR and cracked.

According to officials, it's not yet possible to predict the total delay of the project as concrete testing and results evaluation will be completed in April, 2019. “The projected schedule represents their estimates but does not include the airport’s review and analysis or ways to mitigate. The issue cannot be fully known or realized until April when the testing is completed and the airport is able to review and analyze the results with Great Hall Partners,” Stacey Stegman, Denver International Airport Vice President of Communications, stated. Until now, concrete issues have affected some of the construction activities.

Theresa Marchetta, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s Director of Strategic Communications, defused the situation. “Delays in construction projects of this size are not unusual and we are grateful the processes in place worked to allow for any adjustments we may need to make,“ she said.

Sources: Denver.cbclocal.com, Constructiondive.com