St. John’s International Airport Authority announced June 30, that it plans to invest $40 million this year as part of its $250 million, 10-year Airport Improvement and Expansion Plan announced in 2014 to increase capacity and enhance the Airport’s facilities to accommodate existing and future passenger growth. The major projects scheduled for this year include the continued construction on the Terminal Building East Expansion, the construction of a new four-leg roundabout at the intersection of World Parkway and Navigator Avenue, as well as the development of a new cell phone waiting parking lot.
“I am very pleased with the progress we are making on all our construction projects, which are on time and on budget,” said Peter Avery, Director – Infrastructure and Planning with St. John’s International Airport Authority. “The improvements we are making will significantly enhance the experience for our passengers and all our visitors to our Airport, while supporting the growth in airline operations at our province’s premier gateway.”
The Terminal Building Expansion Project commenced in late 2014 and is approximately 35 per cent complete. The first phase of this project is on budget and on schedule for substantial completion in April 2018, and will add 145,000 square feet to over three levels on the east end of the existing building. This additional space will accommodate a larger check-in area and a new pre-board screening area located on the first floor. It will also double the size of the existing Departures Lounge that will enable many more retail and food and beverage options, including a full-service restaurant and bar, a nursing mother’s area, additional seating and new washroom facilities.
A covered walkway to the rental car parking lot was installed earlier this year to provide shelter for passengers during inclement weather, and will be further extended this September when the new exit from the Terminal Building to World Parkway is opened. In addition, a new Employee parking lot and Gold Pass parking lot will be completed this summer, and an extension to the short-term parking lot will allow parking for 41 more vehicles.
While some projects from last year will continue into 2016, including the Terminal Building expansion and the construction of new employee and Gold Pass vehicle parking lots, new projects scheduled for this year include a new four-leg roundabout at the intersection of World Parkway and Navigator Avenue and a new cell phone waiting parking lot. The roundabout is being installed to manage traffic flows, especially with a number of new developments planned for the area that include a service (gas) station, a rental car facility and a second hotel. The new cell phone waiting lot will allow people who plan to pick up passengers at the curb to wait in this free parking lot until the passenger arrives. Free Wi-Fi will be available in this parking lot while the drivers wait, allowing them to track the progress of the awaiting flight. Both of these projects commenced this week and are expected to be completed by early September.
“While we don’t anticipate any significant traffic delays on the access road to the terminal building as a result of the construction of the roundabout, we do ask passengers to allow extra time in getting to the airport,” added Mr. Avery.
This year’s significant capital program follows last year’s $50 million investment, the largest annual capital investment in the Airport Authority’s history. In 2015 significant progress was made on the first phase of the Terminal Building Expansion, and the three-year Airfield Accessibility and Safety Initiative (Cat III Instrument Landing System installation) was completed. These projects are part of the 10-year Airport Improvement and Expansion Plan that is designed to accommodate approximately two million passengers annually.
