Davidson County Airport Runway Gantry

A new approach lighting system was installed at the Davidson County Airport will be a first of its kind in North Carolina, crossing a major interstate. The airport constructed an approach lighting system that extends along the runway centerline off the southernmost end of Runway 6-24 and will cross Interstate 85. This system will include seven seven light towers inside the interstate right-of-way and two two light towers directly over travel lanes.

The towers will feature horizontal bars of lights at the top that will make the approach to the runway more visible, especially in poor weather conditions that limit visibility. These towers will need to stand the test of time while in the pathway of both airplanes and automobiles. There is no time for downtime when it comes to structural steel holding up lighting responsible for landing airplanes.

Maintaining this steel structure that is suspended over an interstate does not allow for access either. It became clear that there is only one option for eliminating maintenance and protecting this structure for decades to come, hot-dip galvanizing. The gantry system was fabricated, galvanized and assembled in the shop prior to being shipped all the way from New York State to its home in North Carolina.

This required a small window of opportunity for the galvanizing process itself. Thanks to a carefully coordinated schedule and quick turnaround at the galvanizing plant, the contractors were able to pull this project off successfully. No other coating would have met the demanding timelines and provided the ultimate in maintenance free corrosion protection.