Avon Park Airfield Fence

Project Scope and Purpose

This project was to install over 2 miles of DoD cable reinforced, crash rated security fencing and manual and automatic gates around the airfield at the Avon Park Air Force Bombing Range. The project included all related site work including drainage and concrete paving and all associated electrical and telecommunications infrastructure.

Specific Work Details

The project required conducing surveying in the beginning of the project to verify locations on the contract drawings. We also developed a SWPP (stormwater pollution prevention plan) and coordinated the associated mitigation measures. We had to clear and grub around the perimeter of the airfield and grade to get correct drainage requirements once the fence was installed. In addition to the fence and gates we installed crash rated bollards, sidewalks, culverts and headwalls, and a gravel mow strip extending along the entirety of the fence.

 Electrical and utility work included extending existing utility services to power the gates, coordinating with the utility company to install new poles, drops, and transformers. Early on in the project, prior to mobilization on site, we found a conflict in the specifications of the performance requirements of the gate controls and the specified gate products which could have greatly impacted the project schedule and budget. Instead of passively calling out the conflict, we worked diligently to lead coordination with USACE, the Air Force end user, the DOR, and system manufacturers to resolve the conflict and be able to provide the system the end user required. We included all the stakeholders so that all parties could understand and communicate accordingly with the appropriate other parties in real time. We worked proactively to managing the process which kept the project on schedule and within budget.

This project was being constructed as cost escalations were happening across the industry. The price of steel, one of the primary components of the fences and gates, was rising exponentially. We pushed this issue early on in the project pressing the need to have submittals approved rapidly so as to make an earlier bulk purchase of steel. Working with our client, we expedited the submittal approval process and negotiated approval to be paid for storage of materials onsite. We were then able to manage this cost escalation with no additional cost to the Government.

Avon Park is an active Air Force bombing range, and therefore required meticulous daily coordination and look-ahead of our working schedule. We often had to change our work plans based on operations, and were able to do this without impacting the project schedule.

 Work self-performed by Martinez Construction Services included Project Management, Site Superintendent, Site Safety, and Quality Control. We performed general labor and equipment operation for all civil work and concrete work including the mow strip, bollards, culverts, swales, and sidewalks.