Similar to sprinters at the recently completed Paris Olympic games, crews and stakeholders at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ran their own “sprint” that resulted in today’s completion of Phase 1 of ATL’s Concourse D Widening Project.
The accelerated schedule for D Widening’s Phase 1 enabled the Airport and partners to complete the work and reopen six gates by the Sept. 5 deadline.
Within three months of the last module being transported across runways and taxiways, the Department of Aviation constructed approximately 21,000 square feet of additional boarding-level space in Concourse D. The sections will now accommodate the newest Aircraft Design Group (ADG) III, such as the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus 321 Neo. All work was completed behind construction barriers to minimize passenger disruption at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.
ATL Senior Deputy General Manager of Infrastructure Frank Rucker praised the collaborative work between partners and project teams. “The Concourse D Widening Project is one of the most important projects to date,” Rucker explained. “We thank our partners for their commitment in helping us reach this target.”
The D Widening Project is being done in phases to maintain operations and minimize disruptions. ATL Assistant General Manager of Planning and Development Tom Nissalke praised the various groups contributing to the effort. “Everyone involved carried out their responsibilities to make this a success,” he said. “They all delivered as one team, and now that this phase is complete, we’re moving on to phase two.”
The new gates were turned over to Delta Air Lines early this morning, with the first flights scheduled for later today.
Here are additional facts about Concourse D Widening Phase 1:
- Approximately 200 tradespeople daily worked on-site.
- Each of the six new gates can now handle up to 190 passengers per flight.
- The final finishes and ceiling will be installed in future phases.
- Phase 2 of the project is underway, with construction of the next five modules taking place at the Modular Yard. The modules are expected to be transported to Concourse D in January 2025. Phase 2 will be completed by the end of 2025.
- Work at Concourse D for Phase 2 will begin Sept. 6 with the closure of seven existing ADG II gates. This will allow teams to begin necessary foundation and civil work.
In addition to D Widening, construction projects in and around ATL are slated for the coming months. Visit atl.com for more information.
