Billings-Logan International Airport Storm Drainage System
Billings-Logan International Airport hired Morrison-Maierle to come up with a solution that included a multi-phased project to better control the large storm water
events on the airfield, detain the large volume of water in a new pond structure, and drain the ponds through an underground pipe — at a predetermined rate — to a nearby creek drainage.
Phase 1 of this project included two, 48-inch tunnel bores that were installed under the main air carrier runway to alleviate mid-field ponding and water flowing over the runway during large storms. This also required the team to find a way to directionally drill a 30-inch pipe down a 130-foot sandstone cliff at a 30% slope.
Phase 2 of this project included installing underground piping from the north side of the airport to the Alkali Creek drainage and building large, storm water detention ponds near the existing Pond D structure.
As a result, the Billings airport is now ready for storms of any kind with a system that can effectively move water from the airfield to a nearby creek. By using new technology and engineering designs, this method is not only effective, but significantly less expensive than traditional methods.
