New Detroit Metro Complex plans to be finished in 2007

BHopper88 · 01-31-2004, 03:16 PM

Metro complex gets finish date: 2007

Hiring of designers, planners due to start next month
January 31, 2004

BY RAJIV VYAS
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Detroit Metropolitan Airport's long-awaited $428-million North Terminal Complex, which includes rebuilding the Davey Terminal and demolishing the Smith Terminal, could be completed by October 2007.

Airport officials said at a study session earlier this week that in February they would start hiring designers and planners for the project.

Detroit Metro CEO Lester Robinson said the 2007 deadline is tentative, but the complex would have to be built no later than 2008.

Airport officials once thought the expansion would be completed by late 2006. But last May, they said plans were delayed because of the slow economy.

James Nicholson, chairman of the Wayne County Airport Authority Board, which oversees the airport, said there is no strict timeline. "The focus would be on quality" and getting it right, he said. "We want the experience to be equal or better than the McNamara Terminal."

The 97-gate, $1.4-billion McNamara Terminal opened in early 2002.

Davey Terminal's reconstruction is important because all airlines except Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines fly out of the aged Smith Terminal. Once the Davey Terminal is rebuilt, airlines at Smith Terminal would move to the new one. Then the Smith Terminal would be demolished.

The airlines' lease agreement with the airport expires Jan. 1, 2009. If the airport did not move quickly and complete the expansion before then, at least a few of the airlines could decide to move to another airport.

Initial plans call for a 29-gate new North Terminal complex that could have 610,000 square feet of terminal space and 50,000 square feet of concession space. This compares with 550,000 square feet of terminal space at the Smith Terminal and 25,000 square feet of concession area. The actual square footage won't be known until a design is completed.

The airport expects to hire the designer and planners by the week of April 12. The work could be given to one firm or a group of firms.

The selected firm or team would conduct a site survey, and design and prepare construction documents for everything from utility tunnels, baggage systems, rest rooms and apron to boarding lounges. The design could be completed by August 2005.

Site preparation work could begin by this November, while apron, utilities and fuel system construction could start in April 2005. The main building work could start in May 2006 and be completed in the fall of 2007.

Robinson said the biggest challenge he foresees is getting the right baggage system and the screening equipment surrounding the baggage area.

"Those orders are running with 24 to 36 months' backlog," he said. "Between now and when the airport would be ready, there could be a change in technology," because of additional security requirements.

The expansion would be funded mostly through bond offerings.

The airport has $17 million in its existing funds. It raised $70 million through bonds in December 2003 and plans to raise another $50 million this fall and another $291 million in mid-2005.

The airport expects to pay off the bonds and interest mostly through levying a $4.50 per-person facility charge on each departing passenger.

Fourteen airlines have so far agreed to use and lease gates at the new terminal.

While Detroit Metro has been debating when to start work on the expansion, Flint Bishop International and Toledo Express Airport, two small airports that compete for passenger traffic with Metro, have expanded operations or finalized plans to do so.

Flint Bishop opened its 550-space economy lot in late 2003 that cost $4 million in land acquisition and construction costs. By the end of this year, it plans to complete a $6.5-million expansion plan that would add more ticket counter space making it easier for new airlines to start operations and existing airlines to expand.

The airport would evaluate further expansion plans as needed, said Pat Corfman, spokeswoman for Flint Bishop.

And late last year, Toledo Express embarked on a $22-million expansion plan that would double its size by the end of 2006.

presidential · 01-31-2004, 11:18 PM

This is long overdue ... Smith Terminal is a dump. Interesting thing is that the overhaul is not suppose to add any gates .. go figure.

Flint is a pain to get to, but if Jetblue or Soutwest came into Toledo .. I would go there.

Travis Campbell · 02-01-2004, 01:37 AM

Didn't Southwest just expand the Smith Terminal?

Piston 52 Heavy · 02-01-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by presidential
This is long overdue ... Smith Terminal is a dump. Interesting thing is that the overhaul is not suppose to add any gates .. go figure.

Flint is a pain to get to, but if Jetblue or Soutwest came into Toledo .. I would go there.

Flint is a pain to get to? C'mon, all ya gotta do is take I-75 north. It's not that hard.

presidential · 02-01-2004, 03:34 PM

23 south to Toledo

01-31-2004, 03:16 PM	#1
BHopper88 Master Collector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Home: Beverly Hills, Michigan (burb of Detroit), School: Grand Forks, North Dakota Age: 30 Posts: 547	New Detroit Metro Complex plans to be finished in 2007 Metro complex gets finish date: 2007 Hiring of designers, planners due to start next month January 31, 2004 BY RAJIV VYAS FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER Detroit Metropolitan Airport's long-awaited $428-million North Terminal Complex, which includes rebuilding the Davey Terminal and demolishing the Smith Terminal, could be completed by October 2007. Airport officials said at a study session earlier this week that in February they would start hiring designers and planners for the project. Detroit Metro CEO Lester Robinson said the 2007 deadline is tentative, but the complex would have to be built no later than 2008. Airport officials once thought the expansion would be completed by late 2006. But last May, they said plans were delayed because of the slow economy. James Nicholson, chairman of the Wayne County Airport Authority Board, which oversees the airport, said there is no strict timeline. "The focus would be on quality" and getting it right, he said. "We want the experience to be equal or better than the McNamara Terminal." The 97-gate, $1.4-billion McNamara Terminal opened in early 2002. Davey Terminal's reconstruction is important because all airlines except Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines fly out of the aged Smith Terminal. Once the Davey Terminal is rebuilt, airlines at Smith Terminal would move to the new one. Then the Smith Terminal would be demolished. The airlines' lease agreement with the airport expires Jan. 1, 2009. If the airport did not move quickly and complete the expansion before then, at least a few of the airlines could decide to move to another airport. Initial plans call for a 29-gate new North Terminal complex that could have 610,000 square feet of terminal space and 50,000 square feet of concession space. This compares with 550,000 square feet of terminal space at the Smith Terminal and 25,000 square feet of concession area. The actual square footage won't be known until a design is completed. The airport expects to hire the designer and planners by the week of April 12. The work could be given to one firm or a group of firms. The selected firm or team would conduct a site survey, and design and prepare construction documents for everything from utility tunnels, baggage systems, rest rooms and apron to boarding lounges. The design could be completed by August 2005. Site preparation work could begin by this November, while apron, utilities and fuel system construction could start in April 2005. The main building work could start in May 2006 and be completed in the fall of 2007. Robinson said the biggest challenge he foresees is getting the right baggage system and the screening equipment surrounding the baggage area. "Those orders are running with 24 to 36 months' backlog," he said. "Between now and when the airport would be ready, there could be a change in technology," because of additional security requirements. The expansion would be funded mostly through bond offerings. The airport has $17 million in its existing funds. It raised $70 million through bonds in December 2003 and plans to raise another $50 million this fall and another $291 million in mid-2005. The airport expects to pay off the bonds and interest mostly through levying a $4.50 per-person facility charge on each departing passenger. Fourteen airlines have so far agreed to use and lease gates at the new terminal. While Detroit Metro has been debating when to start work on the expansion, Flint Bishop International and Toledo Express Airport, two small airports that compete for passenger traffic with Metro, have expanded operations or finalized plans to do so. Flint Bishop opened its 550-space economy lot in late 2003 that cost $4 million in land acquisition and construction costs. By the end of this year, it plans to complete a $6.5-million expansion plan that would add more ticket counter space making it easier for new airlines to start operations and existing airlines to expand. The airport would evaluate further expansion plans as needed, said Pat Corfman, spokeswoman for Flint Bishop. And late last year, Toledo Express embarked on a $22-million expansion plan that would double its size by the end of 2006.

01-31-2004, 11:18 PM	#2
presidential Master Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 779	This is long overdue ... Smith Terminal is a dump. Interesting thing is that the overhaul is not suppose to add any gates .. go figure. Flint is a pain to get to, but if Jetblue or Soutwest came into Toledo .. I would go there. __________________ -Drew My soul is in the sky. www.dc-9.us www.dc-9.com *www.collectablejets.com* Last edited by presidential; 01-31-2004 at 11:19 PM.

02-01-2004, 03:34 PM	#5
presidential Master Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 779	23 south to Toledo __________________ -Drew My soul is in the sky. www.dc-9.us www.dc-9.com *www.collectablejets.com*

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

02-01-2004, 01:37 AM	#3
Travis Campbell Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Detroit, Michigan (Roughly) Age: 27 Posts: 1,067	Didn't Southwest just expand the Smith Terminal?