$3 billion Phoenix airport construction plan
About 41 million passengers used the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport last year, rising to a projected 50 million by 2015, so the facility is ready for an expansion.
A $3 billion construction plan has been announced by airline officials who said it already had been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. It calls for a new terminal, two additional taxiways, and a people-mover rail system.
Construction could begin by mid-2009.
The new 33-gate terminal, which would cost about $750 million and would help ease heavy passenger traffic at Terminal 4, according to Danny Murphy, the airport director.
Terminal 4, the airport’s largest building, handles about 80% of its traffic.
The tentative plan envisions housing Southwest Airlines in the new terminal. The discount carrier, which runs a hub operation at the airport, currently shares Terminal 4 with US Airways, the hometown airline.
Airport officials also hope to straighten Sky Harbor Boulevard, the airport’s main roadway, which has an abrupt turn that causes congestion.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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