LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
Several questions have arisen regarding the construction in the Willoughby Point Area, or as many Langley veterans remember Building 720, the “Former Mile Long Building or Tow Tank Facility.”
In the early 1930’s the Langley Tow Tank Facility was constructed, prior to the establishment of Air Force directives prohibiting a facility/structure in the Clear Zone. In 1939, the runways were reconfigured, placing the building at end of the primary flight line. Throughout the years, the building was leased to the Navy and NASA, until 1987, when NASA vacated the building.
While the 1st Civil Engineer Squadron Engineering, Planning and Environmental Management flights worked diligently after 1987 to determine the most suitable plan for demolition of the building, Air Combat Command funded the demolition of the of the building down to the tow tanks in 2001. While the effort was successful, Langley still needed to demolish an additional six to nine feet of building foundation to meet safety regulations and address environmental concerns, such as placing a two-foot soil cover over Environmental Restoration Program sites Landfill-22 and Areas of Concerns DP-66, 67 and 68.
In 2002, the ACC civil engineer coined the term “Future First Planning,” an initiative to fuse environmental cleanup with construction projects, making projects more cost-effective and addressing environmental concerns during construction. ACC assisted in the construction and F2P project at the Langley running track in 2003, located across from the Shellbank Fitness Center. The project consisted of a two-foot soil cover over an abandoned Landfill-07 and the construction of a running track.
Langley believes in the ACC initiative and has gone further by funding the first phase demolition/construction of the former “Mile Long Building,” which placed a two-foot soil cover over ERP sites Landfill-22, Areas of Concern, 66, 67 and 68 and demolished approximately 2,100 linear feet of the foundation.
“The redevelopment projects at the Willoughby Point Area have given Langley AFB an opportunity to meet airfield safety regulations enhance safety for flight operations and continue to make environmentally sound decisions,” said Brig. Gen. Burton Field, 1st Fighter Wing commander. “In addition, by constructing the jogging trail, we can provide a great reuse of land to the base populace that will enhance their health and well being.”
To date, the projects have recycled more than 860 tons of concrete and reused more than 11,000 cubic yards of soil from the site. Project completion is scheduled for next month. The second phase of the project, includes the demolition of the remaining 1,000 linear feet of the foundation. A third phase is also in the planning, which would include a 1.5-mile jogging trail beginning at the ACC Fitness Center. Phase two and three may be awarded and begin work as early as fiscal year 2007.