Second taxiway open for business
Port Hedland International Airport event opens second taxiway for business
Port Hedland International Airport (PHIA) stakeholders were invited airside last week to a special event hosted by the PHIA Group to showcase the Airport’s evolution since privatisation. Milestones were celebrated; including the completion of an $18 million set of upgrades to airside pavements and infrastructure to improve safety, security, flexibility and capability. In a symbolic ground-breaking, the $25 million passenger terminal transformation which is due for completion in the second quarter of 2021.
Signified by a ribbon-cutting, PHIA Group Chairman, the Honorable Cheryl Edwardes AM, officially opened the airport’s new Taxiway Golf. The 15,000 square metres of new taxiway pavement built by BMD Constructions improves the efficiency of aircraft movements and extends the airport’s aircraft, freight and international capabilities.
A suite of modernising upgrades include; completion of a full asphalt overlay, shape correction and grooving of the runway, extended apron areas, medium intensity runway lighting, five new apron lighting towers, movement area guidance sign installation and increased parking for heavy-lift helicopters. Extension of the general aviation apron was also completed, which facilitates safe operation of the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s new PC-24 aircraft.
The six-month works program culminated in approximately 100 nights of works and 39,000 manhours, with no disruptions to scheduled flights.
The PHIA Group Chairman and project team leaders, NS Group, turned the first sod on the terminal transformation which follows planning approval by the State Government’s Joint Development Assessment Panel.
Global architects, Woods Bagot have designed a purpose-built passenger terminal that responds to the local environmental conditions with functionality improvements and the latest developments in terminal design. Flexibility and future growth were key considerations for the design team. The repurposed terminal will be a modern complex, approximately 800sqm larger than the existing facility, offering a light and welcoming interior and improved user experience.
A refreshed brand identity for the Airport will meet the needs of the new Terminal project and is contributing a set of fresh elements across transformation projects, as they roll out.
Stakeholders at the business event had the opportunity to view terminal fly-through and construction staging videos and have a virtual reality exploration of the new layout with visiting team ADCO Construction. ADCO are providing project expertise during the early contractor involvement phase.
Cheryl Edwardes said “this is an opportunity to think outside the box and deliver an airport which makes the Port Hedland community proud and has the ongoing capacity to service the burgeoning mining interests, oil and gas industry and other opportunities in the region.”
These major upgrades demonstrate the PHIA Group’s commitment to invest in the Port Hedland community’s asset to keep the region ‘open for business’ and ensure the airport maintains its safety and security standards while offering an enhanced customer experience.
ENDS
