Long Days ~ Short Weeks

Over the past 21 days - with our merry band of builders - a combination of Americans, Turks, Uzbeks, Kirghiz, Afgans, Turkmen, and an assorted range of others, we have placed about 13,000 cubic meters  of concrete on the taxiway here - about half the total on this taxiway.  Combined with our other projects we will place enough concrete to rise to a height of 88 feet on an American football field.  The logistical challenge is daunting -- we have to contend with an operational airfield (the busiest in theater) that has combat (close air support/air to surface), logistical, surveillance, helicopters, and unmanned aerial aircraft taking off or landing every few minutes  in close proximity to our work.  The wingtips miss us by a very close margin so not a lot of room for error-communications with ground control is our friend.  

The days begin with grading and setting forms, establishing our quality checks, and finally, around 7 PM every night, firing up the batch plant and hauling the concrete to the paver which sits rumbling until it can turn the mixed mass into a smooth taxiway surface.  We usually finish at 2 AM.  

The recent rocket attacks forced us to cancel midstream in one night, and the following night, one of the rolling fuel tankers found out what happens when you run into a concrete truck.  The tank lost and ultimately spilled over 1200 gallons of fuel on the ground.  We were able to salvage the waiting concrete, but the fuel, well that's another story...

I am wondering what the long hours will do to us - we need a new routine and it's on my list..

frm the world of insha allah, I wonder where my weeks go...