Paving the Way for Safety and Efficiency at the Indianapolis International Airport

Collaboration & Safety

Strategically coordinated with the FAA on innovative designs and worked with a large group of teaming partners to adjust navigational aid infrastructure and create a safer, futureproofed runway for millions of passengers

Sustainability Achievement

Earned the Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure—the only airfield globally to achieve this at the time—for its community impacts and innovative use of technology to benefit the environment

Widespread Reuse

Prioritized waste reduction, recycling signs, lighting, non-potable water, and existing runway concrete—which was crushed on-site and then reused, diverting significant waste from landfills

A critical, multi-year, collaborative effort to support growth operations at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), the Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D Strengthening and Capacity Enhancement project transformed IND’s 10,000-foot-long southern primary runway and adjacent parallel taxiway system. The aviation project included the reconstruction of more than 450,000 square yards of concrete pavement and the integration of new LED lighting and signage, a water line for firefighting, new navigational aids, and other civil improvements.

Recognized for noteworthy technology implementations, innovative engineering, and groundbreaking sustainability features, this runway project was led by Circle City Aviation Partners (CCAP), a joint venture between Kimley-Horn and Woolpert. As the prime consultant, CCAP served as the project manager, lead engineer of record, and lead for construction phasing services—roles which included tasks like scheduling, project and construction safety phasing, pavement design, pavement markings, and technical specifications.

Project Recognition

Groundbreaking Sustainability and Resiliency in Runway Reconstruction

The IND runway reconstruction became the first airfield pavement project in the US to use in-situ mineralization of carbon dioxide in the concrete design mix—a complex process that reduced the project’s carbon footprint. To support efficient stormwater removal, prevent aircraft skidding, and reduce rubber buildup in the grooves, CCAP also leveraged innovative trapezoidal runway grooving in the pavement design. Beyond this, the project team incorporated LED technology into airfield lighting and signage for a projected 31% in operational energy consumption savings as compared to the former system.

The third construction package of the project included a 10-acre photovoltaic solar array located on the airfield. The solar field has two battery energy storage systems to supply power to the Midfield Vault and one of two aircraft rescue and firefighting facilities at IND. The renewable energy source provides redundancy in the power supply, serving the airport’s operational and safety needs.

Cost Savings and Waste Reduction Through Strategic Reuse

Exceeding initial reuse specifications, the project diverted nearly 690,000 tons of waste from landfills and achieved a more than 99% diversion rate because of how many materials were reused on site or recycled. This reuse included the use of non-potable recycled water for dust control, compaction, and irrigation—lowering potable water use by 50%—and the transfer and reuse of signs and lighting at other airports in Indiana. Additionally, the project team incorporated existing concrete as aggregate base material and pipe bedding, crushing it on site to reduce time, travel logistics, and carbon emissions.

Coordination for Successful Phasing and Safety

The 5R-23L runway is one of two primary runways at IND and is adjacent to FedEx’s cargo hub, so the team needed to develop multiple reconstruction and phasing options to determine the most sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective solution with the least disruption to the airport’s operations. Only two entrance/exit points from the apron to Taxiway D could be closed at a time, and this required extensive strategy to design phases and determine the construction sequence that would minimize runway closure time.

CCAP also prioritized safety for construction workers, airport staff, and passengers, evaluating construction options for safety risks and constructing a temporary jet blast wall. Additionally, the team adjusted NAVAIDs and installed a new capture effect glide slope to promote greater signal reception and aircraft safety for years to come.

IND’s Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D Strengthening and Capacity Enhancement project disrupted industry norms for airfield reconstructions and demonstrated groundbreaking gains in sustainability, resiliency, and coordination—setting up the airport for decades of safer travel for its millions of annual passengers.