Using Life Cycle Cost Analysis in the Bidding Process at the Piedmont Triad International Airport

Abstract: In the realm of airport infrastructure development, effective cost management and strategic investment decisions are crucial. The recent bidding process for Taxiway D at the Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) highlights the integration of Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) as a key tool. LCCA allows decision-makers to evaluate the total cost of ownership over an asset’s lifespan, offering a comprehensive view of financial implications beyond initial construction costs. The LCCA process not only allowed the airport to evaluate for total cost of ownership, but also increased competition in bidding, pulling in two types of contractors that don’t normally have to compete. Given the long-term nature of airport infrastructure investments, LCCA provides an essential framework for informed decision-making.

The project consisted of the pavement reconstruction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of Taxiway D, and sections of three connector taxiways. These areas had reached the end of their 20-year design life, with some pavement sections originally constructed in 1995. Due to their average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) ratings ranging from Serious to Poor, reconstruction was necessary. Two pavement sections were developed during the design process to go to bid: an asphalt section that consisted of 10 inches of P-401/P-403 on 24 inches of P-209 and a rigid section that consisted of 16 inches of P-501 on 6 inches of P-306. The total area to be reconstructed was 35,150 square yards. The existing pavement cross-section to be removed featured an asphalt surface and asphalt base course ranging from 10 to 15 inches, over a crushed aggregate base that varied from 8 to 24 inches in thickness.

This presentation will showcase a case study on the application of the LCCA method in the bidding process for reconstructing Taxiway D and associated taxiways at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. It will cover the project’s scope, the decision-making process for adopting LCCA, the outcomes of the bidding, and the lessons learned from utilizing LCCA in this project.