Transformations are taking place in Norfolk International Airport, which is witnessing a $1 billion worth upgrade program called TransformORF. It is the largest upgrade of the facility in decades, and now that a three-gate concourse expansion has opened up, the airport can be said to have witnessed one of its largest milestones in recent times. The expansion is part of TransformORF – the most comprehensive upgrade program that the Norfolk Airport has had ever since 1974. Serving coastal Virginia and northeast North Carolina regions, this international airport handles nearly 5 million travelers per year.
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New Expansion Unveiled
The expansion of a new three-gate concourse, which is located in Concourse A of Norfolk Airport, forms one of the biggest milestones of TransformORF. At an impressive 18,994 sq. ft., the expansion of gates A10 to A12 is bound to boost the handling capacity of the airport significantly.
More importantly, it is a modern and improved concourse for passengers. They will get to enjoy spacious sitting areas, windows offering a view of the airport and aircraft landing or taking off, improved restroom facilities, and even an indoor pet relief room, which is a trend among new-age airports. American Airlines has started operating flights from these new gates. While others, like Breeze Airways, are expected to begin their operations at this airport later in the spring.
Main Contractors of the Project
The new concourse project has been executed using the Construction Manager at Risk procurement strategy in the $1B project. In all this, W.M. Jordan, based out of Newport News, has done a commendable job. This contractor has also been a major part of other upgrades, such as the new customs facility that was completed in recent days.
Other than the above-mentioned companies that are working on TransformORF, other contractors involved in the project include Tazewell Contracting, Antigo Construction, J.E. Dunn, and Hourigan Construction Company.
International Arrival Facilitation with FIS Facility
Along with the new concourse, there is one more development happening at Norfolk International Airport. This comes in the form of a new FIS (Federal Inspection Services) facility that is costing $31 million and which helps in processing international arrival passengers effectively. It took approximately 18 months for W.M. Jordan to develop the FIS facility, and it got nearly $13.5 million in federal funding.
Nationwide Airport Upgrade Boom
With the opening up of a new concourse and a new customs facility, the Norfolk airport seems ready for international travelers. However, such airport upgrades are common in the nation, and it appears like the whole United States is going through an airport infrastructure upgrade boom. From Sacramento International Airport and San Jose International Airport to Tampa International Airport, billions of dollars are being spent to upgrade aged airports across the nation. And they are not only about increasing passenger capacity but also enhancing the passenger experience.
Future Upgrades in TransformORF
The concourse opening has not enabled Norfolk International Airport to reach its limit on Transform ORF. Several works are still underway. There are ongoing projects related to aligning roadways for easy access to the airport. In addition, a consolidated rental car facility is expected to start construction in coming months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new gate expansion of TransformORF is one of the most important projects for Norfolk airport’s future.
