In a Jan. 10 presentation at the Airport Advisory Commission’s regular meeting, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport deputy chief development officer Lyn Estabrook gave an update on the Concourse B and Connector Project, part of the airport’s $164 million expansion of the Barbara Jordan Terminal.
She showed a map of the overall Airport Expansion and Development Program and noted updates on the status of specific projects. The west parking garage is currently in the solicitation phase. The Barbara Jordan Terminal Optimization Area Two, otherwise known as the atrium infill, is in the design phase. The west infill and the west gates are currently in construction. The central utility plant is currently in the procurement phase. Future projects include the arrivals/departures hall, the northeast apron and a potential expansion of the international area.
The Concourse B and Connector Project is also entering the procurement phase. Estabrook revealed a conceptual layout of Concourse B that lays out potential construction phasing options. Although the layout is tentative, it shows what a 40-gate concourse would look like “beyond 2030.” Phase one includes the Connector to the Barbara Jordan Terminal and 20 initial gates, and phase two includes six additional gates. An additional 14 gates make up phase three.
“This is potential construction phasing, and we’re still working with that,” Estabrook said. “This is what the 40-gate concourse would look like with the sort of central area where everybody connects to and from. And then the wings off to the side. It’s a linear configuration that is an optimal level of design.”
Another image shows different roads for different sized aircraft along the concourse. Estabrook explained that it allows planes of different sizes to maneuver back and forth and still be clear of each other.
“This kind of shows you how much space you would need and why we can’t grow the (Barbara Jordan Terminal) in width until this apron and these two new roads kind of are set out so that there’s enough maneuverability from the planes on (Barbara Jordan Terminal) to push back and still cross and be within the two terminals,” she said.
The presentation also included a graphic that shows an airline club at the mezzanine level; concessions, amenities and hold rooms at the concourse level; circulation, amenities and airline support at the apron level; and a pedestrian entrance and baggage at the tunnel level.
“There’s that central node that will come up from the connector,” Estabrook said. “There’ll be everything from restrooms and concessions to a mezzanine with a club in that area. That will be a great club with an amazing view of everything. And then there’s nodes that have restrooms and concessions. And then there’s nodes for hold groups.”
She continued, “We’ve made it a very modular kind of system so that as we grow, we can just continue to add on different nodes.”
The presentation also featured a graphic of potential connector cells, which include a passenger cell sandwiched between a baggage handling system cell and a utility cell, which would include chilled water pipes for the air conditioning system, power, sanitary lines and more.
“The really great thing about this image is it shows you that we’re designing the passenger cell to have moving walkways,” Estabrook said. “So those are walkways that you stand on, and it takes you along on both sides as well as room for carts to address the mobility issues as well as room for people.”
Estabrook said it’s nearly double Austin’s downtown hike and bike trails.
In terms of timing, Estabrook said city projects historically spend about nine months in the procurement process. The team is working to shorten that timeline, but if it remains unchanged the design process should start in the fall. Construction would end in around 2030.
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Austin Airport Advisory Commission: The Austin Airport Advisory Commission makes recommendations to the Austin City Council on aviation projects, grants and the Austin Bergstrom International Airport’s annual operating budget and quality of services.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: Run by the city, the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is located on the old site of Bergstrom Air Force Base it opened to to the public on May 23, 1999.
