Massive Earthwork Project Set to Begin at Nashville International Airport
The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) is entering a new phase of expansion with a substantial earthwork project set to begin at Nashville International Airport. This project will enlarge the paved area (or “ramp”) adjacent to the terminal’s north end, adding more space for aircraft maneuvering and parking — the first step in building a much larger Concourse A to accommodate significant projected growth and rising demand for air service.
The Airport Authority’s Board of Commissioners this week awarded a $27 million contract to Eutaw Construction for Phase 1 of the Concourse A ramp expansion project. Construction will begin in November to create nearly 30 acres of new space adjacent to Concourse A by spring 2023. Phase 2, which has not yet been awarded, will pave the new space and add aircraft taxilanes to service an expanded Concourse A.
The future Concourse A expansion contract has not yet been awarded.
“Air traffic at BNA has returned to pre-pandemic levels. With even more growth projected in the years ahead, Nashville needs a bigger airport,” said Doug Kreulen, BNA president and CEO. “A world-class Concourse A is key to our growth strategy, but we need a bigger ramp first. We’re eager for Eutaw Construction to move forward with this critical airport infrastructure project. An even bigger and better BNA is on the horizon, and we’re swiftly heading toward it.”
Phase 1 of the Concourse A ramp expansion project will bring a 95-foot depression up to grade, creating 27 acres of space to extend the existing Concourse A ramp. The resulting surface area will be needed for aircraft maneuvering once Concourse A is expanded. An estimated 75,000 dump truck loads of fill material will be used to build the new space, 67 percent of which was harvested from BNA’s on-site stockpiles (including rock excavated from the future International Arrivals Facility site and concrete recycled from the newly reconstructed Runway 2R/20L). The remaining fill material will come from a local quarry.
The project is expected to include nearly $3 million in contract awards for minority and woman-owned business enterprises and will create an estimated 60 jobs.
“Eutaw Construction is excited to continue our partnership with MNAA on the upcoming Concourse A ramp expansion contract,” said Lane Williams, regional vice president of Eutaw Construction Company. “We welcome the opportunity to work together with the professional team at MNAA in executing another successful project and further BNA’s ongoing expansion.”
Notably, this project is part of a second major phase of expansion at Nashville International Airport. The first slate of projects under way now and set for completion in 2023 include a new Hilton-branded hotel, a state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility and terminal lobby expansion and renovation. Projects already completed under the first phase include a new Concourse D, new ticketing wings and baggage claim space, Terminal Garages 1 and 2, and a new administrative office building.
The second group of projects will add even more capacity to serve rising demand for air travel projected to continue beyond 2023. These projects include a free-standing satellite concourse and the Concourse A ramp expansion.
As with all other airport capital improvement projects, no local tax dollars will be used to fund BNA expansion projects. Take a virtual 360-degree tour, view renderings and watch the BNA Vision video at bnavision.com.
