Northwest announces
contractor for new terminal

Northwest Airlines and Wayne County officials held court atop the Detroit Metropolitan Airport control tower earlier this month to announce the contractor for the new midfield terminal.

County and airline officials hosted a crowd of media at the tower overlooking the site, announcing that Indianapolis-based Huber, Hunt & Nichols will be the general contractor of the $365.5 million complex.

Here is an artist's rendering of how part of the terminal is expected to look upon completion.

"We are excited to take this important step toward building what will be the finest airport facility in the United States," said Ray Vecci, Northwest Airlines president of Michigan Operations. "We are committed to providing our customers in Detroit and around the world with a world-class facility and world-class hometown airline."

The award is a giant step toward completion of the mile-long midfield terminal and southern access road on the southern end of the airport.

"This is certainly another history-making day at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport," said Edward McNamara at the ceremony. "... We have cleared another significant hurdle ... along the path to our future."

Northwest Airlines is overseeing construction of the site and will occupy the complex when completed, offering both domestic and international flights and services.

Wayne County will own the facility and Northwest will be the primary lessee.

Huber, Hunt & Nichols is no stranger to large-scale projects, and has been involved in terminal projects in Atlanta and Indianapolis. It is currently constructing the new Comerica Park in Detroit for the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise.

This construction contract is part of the ongoing $1.2 billion midfield terminal program that also includes a new fourth parallel runway and support facilities, a new south access road to the terminal and a parking structure across from the terminal.

The 2 million-square-foot terminal complex will house a mile-long east concourse with 66 jet aircraft gates and a smaller west concourse with 25 commuter and eight jet gates.

A 700-foot-long underground tunnel with moving walkways and art glass walls and special lighting will connect the two concourses.

Airport spokesman Michael Conway said the terminal building should be completed by September 2001, and said peripheral facilities should be completed before the end of 2001 for the grand opening.

The state-of-the-art complex will be especially easy on those who need to quickly connect to flights at the other end of the terminal, or anyone who just needs to traverse the mile-long terminal. There will be two red people-mover trams running continuously, transporting passengers from one end to the other in 2-1/2 minutes.

And, for those who arrive a little early, the terminal will feature 125,000 square feet of retail space, an increase from the 70,000 square feet offered at the airport now.

Northwest has four WorldClub facilities in the plans, which will offer 36,000 square feet of space for WorldClub members.

Soaring 35-foot ceilings, porcelain tiles, terrazzo floors and Detroit Pewabic tiles will greet airport visitors in style.

Plans also call for 11 large domestic and seven large international luggage carousels, 104 ticketing positions Federal inspection services, 1-1/2 miles of moving walkways and 24 outside luggage and check-in positions.

Conway said Huber, Hunt & Nichols will sub-contract a lot of the work locally, and is expected to employ as many as 2,000 full-time workers during peak construction periods next year.

Signs of the new terminal were clearly evident from the 250-foot-high control tower, including the nearly completed road, excavation sites where the terminal will be built and area where the infrastructure/utilities are being installed.

MIDFIELD TERMINAL PROJECT FACTS:

Terminal Building:

• 24 luggage curbside check-in positions at departure level versus 7 at Davey Terminal.
• 104 domestic and international ticketing positions.
• Domestic luggage claim with 11 large luggage carousels.
• International luggage claim with 7 large carousels.

East Concourse:

• 66 jet arrival/departure gates.
• Two people-mover trams to take passengers from one end station of the concourse to the other in 2-1/2 minutes.
• 1-1/2 miles of moving sidewalks.

West Concourse:

• 8 jet arrival/departure gates.
• 25 commuter arrival/departure gates.
• Concessions, restrooms and other amenities on the departure level.

Other features:

• A 700-foot tunnel connecting the East Concourse with the West Concourse.
• Four Northwest WorldClubs with 36,000 square feet of facilities.

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