Project Spotlight Southwest Florida International Airport

Southwest Florida International Airport – Concourse E Expansion is a $32 million steel expansion adding approximately 5,000 tons of structural steel and miscellaneous metals to the Fort Myers, FL airport. The work includes two long‑span trusses—each spanning 160 feet and weighing nearly 60,000 pounds—that required a three‑crane lift using dual 160‑ton rough‑terrain cranes and a 110‑ton all‑terrain crane to stabilize supporting members. The truss connections required more than eight hours of 5G welding and ultrasonic testing before crane release.

The expansion also features ten girder beams spanning over 90 feet and weighing between 30,000 and 62,000 pounds. These girders were delivered in two sections and spliced on site with an average of 100 bolts per splice. A 30‑foot cantilevered canopy extends over an active roadway, necessitating nighttime erection between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. to limit airport traffic disruptions.