Who does the federal government call when the stakes of a construction project are high and the operations standards uncompromising?

In and around the nation’s capital, Balfour Beatty is entrusted to deliver federal projects that require best-in-class operations solutions with nothing less than a Zero Harm safety mindset. It’s a mission we embrace with passion, pride and purpose.

On the F-22 Low Observable Component Repair Facility project at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Balfour Beatty is delivering a nearly 75,000-square-foot, four bay high bay operations and maintenance that will service relocated F22A aircraft. Although any project can be accompanied by its fair share of the unknown and unforeseen, LOCRF stands out for the scope and magnitude of impacts, and for our team’s skillful recalibration that has kept the project on track and ensured the safety and wellbeing of the entire team.

Navigating the Unknown with Big-Picture Planning

As excavation commenced in the building’s second phase, the project team discovered two active, 36-inch storm lines spanning 1,000 linear feet that were not in the original drawings. This introduced the potential for several serious hazards, including flooding that could destabilize trenches or erode soil. More broadly, these lines could have compromised the integrity of nearby structures on the base, and with it, the continuity of vital U.S. Air Force operations. Balfour Beatty responded swiftly with a strategic, big-picture plan that safely mitigated all hazards.

With deep utilities expertise, Balfour Beatty worked hand-in-hand with major trade partners including Timmons Group and Hudgins Contracting to perform an extensive GPRS analysis, meticulous surveying work and diligent utility marking using safer hand digging methods among other approaches. Through that process, the project team uncovered and documented additional previously unknown utilities such as conduit, cabling and piping.

Utility work is among the most hazardous aspects of construction, because contact with even one unknown line can trigger serious events including electrical strikes, gas releases, flooding inside trenches and excavations or even complete structural failure. As a credit to the strength and precision of our plan, effective communication and outstanding field execution, this work was completed with zero lost-time incidents or injuries.

Senior Superintendent William “Bill” Jones reflects the team’s success. “I’m very proud of how the team managed navigating through all of the unknowns in the earth in that area. At every step, our safety planning was spot-on.”

As utility efforts progressed, Balfour Beatty also conducted extensive, 24/7 dewatering operations in the 30-foot pit to intercept inflow, lower water levels and stabilize the excavation.

The soil in Virginia's Tidewater plain ranges from sandy to dense clay-rich types, and its composition is further complicated by high water tables and frequent poor drainage caused by tidal marshes and low-lying inland regions. This brings an added layer of complexity to dewatering efforts that Balfour Beatty and our trade partners have continually monitored and effectively mitigated.

Zero Debris, Zero Harm

It isn’t just our operations leadership that differentiates Balfour Beatty. Our people-first culture and values alignment make us the contractor of choice for federal clients that seek a partner who matches their expectations for accountability, readiness and mission‑aligned performance. This is especially true when it comes to Zero Harm.

Because Joint Base Langley-Eustis is fully operational, Balfour Beatty developed a comprehensive logistics plan to prevent even the smallest amount of construction dust, debris or foreign objects – known as FOD – from entering the airfield. In accordance with U.S. Air Force requirements, Balfour Beatty maintains low‑profile barriers under 40 inches along the site perimeter to ensure they do not interfere with the aircraft’s 22‑foot wingspan. We continually update and modify our logistics plan in constant collaboration and communication with the Air Force and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The importance of these protective measures cannot be emphasized enough. Even the smallest piece of debris down to an inch of scrap piping could be catastrophic to life and property if it contacted the engine of nearby hundred-million-dollar aircraft.

“We run a strict site for cleanup, aesthetics and most importantly safety,” says Bill. “It takes all boots on the ground, all eyes on the ground, all hours of the day.”

This vigilance is fueled by a deep concern for people and every mission that depends on our work.

The Federal Contractor of Choice

Flexibility and resilience are encoded in the DNA of Balfour Beatty’s Relentless Allies. Bill’s words capture it best: “Unforeseen, we got this.” When the scope of the mission shifts, federal clients trust our team to regroup, re-strategize and press forward.

Mission first, always.