Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) today celebrated a milestone in one of the Airport’s most ambitious projects to date. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens celebrated with ATL General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari the raising of a 900-pound steel beam on the first module of the new addition to Concourse D. The unique building technique will widen and modernize the concourse while maintaining operations at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.
“This project will allow us to meet future capacity demands while enhancing ATL’s role as a leader in the industry,” said Airport General Manager Balram Bheodari. “The unique requirements of building what is, in effect, a new concourse while maintaining operations will be a challenge we’ll overcome through collaboration, planning, and professionalism.”
Opened in 1980, Concourse D is one of five original concourses of ATL’s Domestic Terminal. It is the Airport’s narrowest, with a circulation corridor of 18 feet and hold room (gate area) seating for 5,400 passengers. The concourse was originally designed with 40 gates to handle 19 regional aircraft and 21 larger aircraft. Even after renovations over the decades, Concourse D remains dramatically undersized, given its passenger use.
Airport officials determined that Concourse D needed to be larger and wider, but were challenged with completing the project without disrupting operations. After consulting with and visiting facilities that underwent similar projects, it was decided to build 19 modules outside of airside operations and attach them to the existing structure.
The 19 modules will be built offsite on a six-acre modular construction lot adjacent to the facility. Once each module is complete, it will be individually transported across the airfield overnight to Concourse D for installation.
Once…
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