Posted in Denver International Airport’s $1.5 billion gate expansion project is officially underway. Groundbreaking ceremonies heralded the beginning of a massive overhaul and upgrade at DEN that will allow what is now the fifth-busiest U.S. airport to keep up rapid growth.
The project will add 39 new gates to the airport by spring 2021, increasing gate capacity 30 percent. Denver International saw 61 million travelers depart, arrive or connect on flightsin 2017, a 5.3 percent increase.
The new gates will be added to the end of each concourse, providing all of DEN’s airlines an opportunity to grow and for DEN to accommodate new airlines, including international carriers. All of the gates will be operational by spring 2021 with four gates opening on B — West by 2020.
The new gate locations:
A — West — 12 gates
B — West – 4 gates
B — East – 7 narrow-body gates
C — East – 16 gates
“The airport has experienced a tremendous increase in passengers, setting yet another record over the past year with more than 61 million passengers. This is Colorado’s No. 1 economic engine and we have worked hard to make it stronger by adding 11 new airlines, 13 new international destinations and 28 new domestic destinations since 2011. The airport’s success is outgrowing the building and the enhanced capacity that comes with these new gates will allow for more flights, more destinations and more options for those traveling to and from Denver, all of which keeps Colorado’s economy strong,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock.
Coming in June or July is a wide-scale terminal renovation that is part of a separate,$1.8 billion public-private partnership deal. Great plans are to consolidate ticketing areas, move security screening to the upper level and construct new main-floor concession spaces.
“The new gates are one of several major projects in our $3.5 billion five-year capital improvement program that will prepare DEN for the future,” said airport CEO Kim Day. “We will not only increase capacity, but we will add more passenger amenities including food and shopping, charging stations and even outdoor space where you can enjoy Colorado’s beautiful weather and scenery.”
The $1.5 billion Gate Expansion Project is being managed by two joint — ventures: Holder Construction and FCI Constructors Inc. on Concourse B — East and Concourse C — East, and Turner Construction and Flatiron Construction on Concourse A- West and Concourse B- West. HNTB Corp. and Jacobs Engineering Group were contracted for architectural and design services for the project