Clark Completes C-5 Conversion at West Virginia Air National Guard Base

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – Clark Construction Group, LLC, has completed its construction on the conversion of the West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Airlift Wing. When fully completed, the conversion will change the base from a facility designed to support the C-130 Hercules aircraft to a facility able to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Among the largest aircraft in the world, the C-5 can carry fully equipped combat-ready military units to any point in the world on short notice and provide field support to troops.

Clark’s efforts on the conversion project lasted three years and included the construction of a 80,700 square-foot hangar bay that permits aircraft jacking, and 93,000 square feet of shops and administration functions for maintenance of the C-5 aircraft. Clark also performed related site improvements, including an aircraft apron featuring 1.4 million square-feet of 13” thick concrete pavement.

To accommodate the C-5 aircraft, Clark performed construction and infrastructure improvements on four taxiways and two runways. Work included pavement demolition, mass excavation, embankment construction and re-grading, extending run way lighting and relocating the runway lighting system, grooving, asphalt base course and pavement courses, and storm drainage.

Under a separate contract, Clark completed a 10-story, 130-foot airport control tower at the air base. That project involved demolition of the existing control tower, construction of a new tower, and installation of new infrastructure across the base. The tower was recently named 2006 Project of the Year by the Steel Erectors Association of America.

The project team included HSMM of Washington, D.C., designer of the apron and hydrant loop, PBS & J of Nashville, designer of the runway extension, and CH2M Hill of Reston, VA, designer of the hangar and maintenance mall.