ENGINEERING CONFIDENCE FOR BUSY AIRPORTS
We know that design engineers for airport infrastructure are regularly challenged. You are required to find technical, yet economical and sustainable solutions that can overcome difficult constraints, such as:
- Restrictive rights-of-way
- Low overhead clearances
- Narrow travel lanes and pathways
- Complex alignments and geometry
- Heavy loading carry capacity
Our portfolio meets these challenges.
We have dedicated solutions which are versatile for all airport infrastructure types. This includes access roads, terminal approaches, runway extensions, underpasses and slope stabilisation.
Our commitment to sustainability means we also support environmental goals wherever possible. Reduced land use, the integration of recycled materials and the long service life of our systems all help to lower environmental impact. Combined with rapid installation and minimal site disruption, these attributes support more sustainable construction programmes that align with airport carbon reduction initiatives.
Whether it’s improving access roads, expanding terminals or constructing high‑performance retaining structures, we can help.
Perimeter road tunnel solution for Heathrow Airport
As part of the construction of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, a new perimeter vehicle access route needed to be built along with a connection to the main entry point off the M25. The solution involved lowering the perimeter road below the access road and forming a roundabout above, creating a smooth traffic flow around the terminal.
The most efficient and aesthetically pleasing way to achieve this design was to install a cut and cover tunnel using Geoquest’s precast arch system. This system featured a standard twin section that met at the crown, providing the necessary support and stability for the structure.
The challenge of this project lay in the relatively low height of the arch, which was only 7.4 meters, compared to its span of 17.4 meters. To overcome this, we designed the arch using only 350mm thick precast arch segments, extending across the full 130m length of the tunnel. The portals to the tunnel were constructed with oblique ends to accommodate the steeply sloping sides of the surrounding landscape.
This innovative solution not only met the spatial and structural requirements of the project but also provided an efficient and cost-effective way to integrate the new tunnel into the airport’s perimeter road network.
Benefits of using Geoquest for your airport project
Maximising space in challenging terrain
Airports are often located in areas where their expansion is made complex. From the lack of space or the presence of hills, coastal areas and natural water channels. Reinforced Earth® enables reduction in land use, allowing expansion in even restricted environments.
Meeting airport construction complexities
Even for high walls, our structures are able to bear loads generated by large aircrafts such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.
Pre-sequenced design approach
Geoquest installation procedures are rapid and predictable. They cause minimal disruption of traffic making them a sensible choice to meet your construction deadlines.
Minimal footprint and intrusions
Our techniques allow the use of recycled construction materials; providing you better quality and increased service lifetime.
Third Runway for Seattle Tacoma International Airport
The expansion of SeaTac Airport involved the construction of a third runway to improve operational reliability during poor weather. The project faced major constraints including steep topography, nearby wetlands and limited land availability. To overcome these challenges, the Port of Seattle selected Reinforced Earth® as the most effective and reliable solution.
A key feature of the works was the construction of a series of tall Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) vertical retaining walls. The tallest of these reached an exposed height of approximately 140 feet, formed as a four‑tier system designed to stabilise the steep, confined terrain and protect adjacent streams and wetlands.
The project team evaluated more than sixty potential retaining wall and slope configurations before choosing Geoquest steel‑reinforced MSE walls, which offered both engineering efficiency and proven long‑term performance.
Infrastructure is not just functional;
it contributes to the character and first impressions of the airport itself
Aesthetic Flexibility
Airports are places that millions of passengers pass through every year, and first impressions matter.
Geoquest structures can be tailored with a wide range of facings, colours and textures to create highly attractive and distinctive designs. These finishes can be selected to match existing architecture, incorporate local identity or simply provide a cleaner, more modern visual environment.
Geoquest steep slopes surrounding Dhoho International Airport
The construction of Dhoho International Airport in Kediri required major earthworks on steep and uneven terrain, which created areas where space was too limited for traditional embankments. To address this, Geoquest provided an MSE steep slope system capable of supporting fill heights of up to 30 metres while keeping the footprint compact.
Using our geogrid wraparound reinforcement, the team delivered stable slopes with angles between 50° and 68°, covering about 19,000m2 of facing. Additional geosynthetic protection including HDPE geomembrane and non‑woven geotextiles, was installed across roughly 35,000m2 to protect channels and ponds and support long‑term performance.
This project demonstrates how modern reinforced earth steep slopes can maximise land use, improve stability and provide a reliable, cost‑effective retaining solution for airport developments where space and ground conditions present significant challenges.
The construction of Dhoho International Airport in Kediri required major earthworks on steep and uneven terrain, which created areas where space was too limited for traditional embankments. To address this, Geoquest provided an MSE steep slope system capable of supporting fill heights of up to 30 metres while keeping the footprint compact.
Using our geogrid wraparound reinforcement, the team delivered stable slopes with angles between 50° and 68°, covering about 19,000m2 of facing. Additional geosynthetic protection including HDPE geomembrane and non‑woven geotextiles, was installed across roughly 35,000m2 to protect channels and ponds and support long‑term performance.
This project demonstrates how modern reinforced earth steep slopes can maximise land use, improve stability and provide a reliable, cost‑effective retaining solution for airport developments where space and ground conditions present significant challenges.
Infrastructure is not just functional;
it contributes to the character and
impression of the airport itself
Aesthetic Flexibility
Airports are places that millions of passengers pass through every year, and first impressions matter.
Geoquest structures can be tailored with a wide range of facings, colours and textures to create highly attractive and distinctive designs. These finishes can be selected to match existing architecture, incorporate local identity or simply provide a cleaner, more modern visual environment.
Third Runway for Seattle Tacoma International Airport
The expansion of SeaTac Airport involved constructing a third runway to improve operational reliability during poor weather. The project faced major constraints including steep topography, nearby wetlands and limited land availability. The Port of Seattle selected Reinforced Earth® as the most effective and reliable solution to overcome these challenges.
A key feature of the works was the construction of a series of tall Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) vertical retaining walls. The tallest of these reached an exposed height of approximately 140 feet, formed as a four‑tier system designed to stabilise the steep, confined terrain and protect adjacent streams and wetlands.
The project team evaluated more than sixty potential retaining wall and slope configurations before choosing Geoquest steel‑reinforced MSE walls, which offered both engineering efficiency and proven long‑term performance.
Speak to our team about your next project
Engineering expertise and 120 years or more of service life
Geoquest offers unrivalled engineering expertise to provide you with the best design and supply package, coupled to commercial excellence that will make your next road development project a success.
Guaranteeing long-term life duration and minimum necessity for maintenance of the infrastructure is of outmost importance, and our designs are optimised based on the service life that is required.
