When the old Eastern Airlines terminal at JFK was being replaced with a new building and apron in 1995, NNP were appointed to review pavement design proposals with regard to making cost savings by utilizing a concrete paver surfaced pavement. The existing pavements at the terminal were investigated using both destructive and non destructive testing to investigate the feasibility of rehabilitation. NNP employed Roy McQueen and Associates for the Falling Weight Deflectometer analysis. The condition survey indicated that most of the pavement distress was environmentally induced rather than load associated. Existing paving at the terminal included concrete slabs and sections of heavy duty and light duty asphalt concrete pavement. The structural analysis using FWD data indicated that pavement strengthening was required.

The design approach included both conventional FAA design methods and their new layered elastic design procedure. The estimated traffic mix was a full range of aircraft including B-747s, B-757s, B-767s, B-777s, DC-10s, MD-80s, L-1011s, MD-11s and A-340s. The annual departures totaled 11,000. Pavement sections investigated included entrance taxiway, taxilanes and parking positions. Designs for replacement pavement had been completed by the terminal engineer. NNP investigated a new concrete paver surfaced pavement and overlays of concrete, asphalt and pavers. Cost appraisals were undertaken indicating savings in the order of $5 million to $9 million using these alternative pavement designs. However, the final pavement selection that was utilized comprised an asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete overlay with some limited reconstruction. This option was estimated to have a similar cost to the paver overlay but, as it utilized more conventional airport paving technology, it was more acceptable to interested parties.