Breaking ground

Construction is soon to begin on the 10-gate expansion of Terminal 2 West (pictured in background) at San Diego International Airport.

The largest expansion project in the history of the San Diego International Airport (SDIA) is under way.  On July 8, 2009, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the expansion site, the former landfill for the Naval Training Center, located adjacent to Terminal 2 West.  The Airport Authority fist cleaned up the site through an innovative clean closure method.

Formerly known as the Terminal Development Program, the expansion project is now called The Green Build. It will build out Terminal 2 West with add 10 new gates and significantly improve the airport’s taxiways and ramps.  The Green Build gets its name from the many green, environmentally friendly and sustainable measures incorporated into the project, as well as the economic benefits and some 1,000 jobs it will generate.  The Airport Authority is hoping the project will earn a LEED^® Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council when completed. The project will be funded through user fees, revenue bonds and FAA grants.

The current Terminal 2 West, occupied by Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and U.S. Airways, will have a mirror image of it built adjacent to its existing footprint, which will result in wide concourses and comfortable gate holding areas for the millions of passengers who will use the new facility.  Customer service will also be enhanced, thanks to a more efficient 12-lane TSA security screening area, as well as dramatic new dining and shopping areas.  Check out this cool animation on the airport’s new Facebook fan page of what the expansion will look like from the inside.

Airport Authority President/CEO Thella F. Bowens (center) is flanked by (from left) Airport Authority vice presidents Angela Shafer-Payne, Jeffrey Woodson, Vernon Evans and Bryan Enarson at the July 8 groundbreaking ceremony for The Green Build.

Phase one of The Green Build will consist of the construction of additional overnight aircraft parking, eliminating the need for aircraft to taxi across the runway.  This will help relieve the “bank” of departures at 6:30 a.m. and allow the morning flights to depart more quickly.  Also, a new USO facility will be built and will be the biggest in the nation when finished.  The facility will serve the numerous military personnel and their families who travel through SDIA.

Phase two will consist of the 10-gate Terminal 2 West expansion and a dual-level roadway that separates arrivals to level one and departures to level two.  The new roadway will incorporate smart curb technology, which will allow passengers to check in to their flights before stepping foot inside the terminal.  Once completed, SDIA will be one of the first airports in the nation using this smart curb technology.

Passengers will be able to enjoy the new facilities beginning in late 2012 or early 2013.  You can follow the construction of The Green Build right here on the Ambassablog, or on the airport’s new Twitter or Facebook fan pages.

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