QuoteBy DAVID HUNT,
The Times-Union
The first wave of terminal expansion at Jacksonville International Airport will include a food court, a fancy menswear shop, motorized walkways and a wider Concourse A.
"We've probably got 150 people out here working," Charlie Hardrick, a construction coordinator, said during a recent tour of the work site. "There's crews over there. There's crews on the roof. There's crews everywhere."
The new concourse is scheduled to open in May as workers begin demolishing the old one. That work is part of a $170 million project also replacing Concourse C by 2009.
"Growth. That's what's driving it: Growth in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida," said Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokesman Michael Stewart.
The additions will provide roughly 17,000 additional square feet in concession and retail space - boosting airport revenues by more than $1.2 million - according to authority projections.
Overall airport capacity will boost from 6 million annual travelers to 8 million, Stewart said - which is critical as the authority reviews a count of 6.3 million people having passed through the airport during the fiscal year that ended in September.
Stewart said the expansion will net the airport two additional gates, but each of the gates will be able to handle everything from regional jets to much beefier aircraft like the Boeing 757.
"It's going to be so much more efficient," he said.
Work began last year, turning the airport into a daily flurry of drilling and concrete pouring.
Robert Molle, the authority's director of planning and development, said design work for a new Concourse B will begin as work concludes on the A and C replacements.
End to end, the new concourses will be 100 feet wide. Overall space will increase by 89 percent, according to the authority.
Hardrick puts that into perspective, saying, "The old concourse would almost fit in the walkway here."
The structures are designed to be built out an additional 200 feet when the time comes for more space. Until then, airport officials have plans to decorate the far ends of the concourses with massive images of travelers created by California artist Gordon Huether.
The piece is called Gotta Go. Authority documents show management has earmarked $200,000 for the artwork.
david.hunt@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4025
AIRPORT TIMELINE
May 2008: Concourse A opens at Jacksonville International Airport, serving flights from Northwest, Delta and AirTran airlines. Demolition of the old Concourse A begins.
Scheduled openings:
- A food court including Starbucks, Freshens, Sbarro and Quiznos
- Budweiser Stadium Club
- Retailers Brooks Brothers, Details, CNBC News and Rain or Shine
November 2008: Concourse C opens. Demolition of the old Concourse C is expected to finish in May 2009.
Scheduled openings:
- NASCAR Bar
- River City Travel
- Retailers InMotion, CNBC News and New York Times Book Store
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112807/bus_220954354.shtml.
Man, this expansion should really help to further modernize the terminal. IMO, the biggest thing missing is an attached upscale hotel.
Yes, what Jason said. I'll toss in Transit Lanes as well. Not just some marking on pavement but RofW right into or "under" the terminal itself. Something that could then be used by JTA bus, LRT, People-Mover or any other type of transit. As we grow, the need will become more critical so now is the time to act before we muck it all up with too many walls. FYI the Memphis airport sits over "SUBWAY TUNNELS" for a subway that has not yet been built...call it PLAN AHEAD.
Ocklawaha
well airport expansion is always good news
Has anyone heard any updates on the expansion? Are they still on track for the May opening? I've got a Delta flight in June and looking forward to seeing the new terminal.
Yes, it is about done. I was there two weeks ago, and it looks about ready.
It will take them some time to transition. They built the new concourse pretty close to the old one, so they can only use the outsde gates at first, then they need to demolish the old concourse, and repour the concrete for the taxiway.
From teh outside, I'd believe May