ACSA is confident that the R3,5bn construction at Johannesburg International Airport will be completed by 2009 and the precinct would be fully operational in time for the 2010 World Cup. This was the message from David Schoültz, Acsa’s manager: projects. Central terminal building Construction began in June 2006 and will be finished by the end of 2009, linking the domestic and international terminal via this central building. It will also be connected to the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link station. International pier development This is expected to be completed by March 2007 and will include additional passenger holding space and an expanded duty-free mall for international passengers. Second multi-storey parkade This means an additional 5 200 parking bays. The first phase will be open by August 2007 and it will be fully completed by December 2008. New upper roadway Construction on the new upper roadway began in February 2006 and will be finished at the end of February 2007. Construction at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) is also due to begin in the next few months, following the completion of the ‘land enablement’ phase. This involves the relocation of tenants occupying the control tower and administrative building so that demolition can begin. Included in the transformation of CTIA is a new central terminal building, which will include a domestic wing; an upgrading of the current approach road system; the construction of an elevated road to separate the arrivals and departures levels and a second multi-storey car park. On the airside, air bridges and additional aircraft parking bays will be built. Construction is expected to take three years. Acsa warns that the construction will cause “significant inconvenience to airport users” and advises passengers to arrive early for their flights. Lucy Siebert & Sue Lewitton (lucys@nowmedia.co.za & suel@nowmedia.co.za)
