Melbourne Airport’s biggest airfield expansion in almost a decade is complete with the opening of the new Taxiway Delta.
The first major taxiway development since the pandemic, the 800-metre taxiway runs parallel with the airport’s east-west (09/27) Runway and will help reduce delays by reducing aircraft congestion on the airfield.
Taxiway Delta was constructed over 11 months and is the first step in enabling the expansion of Melbourne Airport’s international Terminal 2.
More than 90 Olympic sized swimming pools of dirt and concrete had to be excavated to make way for the taxiway in addition to pouring more than 43,000m3 of concrete pavement, which is twice the size of the MCG.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the taxiway was an essential piece of the international terminal expansion plans.
“Expanding an airport in a 24/7 environment is akin to playing tetris, each piece of the puzzle has an impact on the other, which is why the sequencing of our works takes years of planning to get right,” he said.
“The completion of Taxiway Delta essentially enables us to shift operations further north, eventually giving us space to expand the whole international terminal.
“Getting these works completed ahead of the busy easter holiday period is wonderful, as the taxiway will add much needed capacity into the airfield’s operations.
“The taxiway has been constructed with the latest concrete pavement technology along with new LED lighting, reducing the need for maintenance which can cause congestion and delays.
“Anyone that has come through our international terminal during peak times would know we simply don’t have enough space to cater for our growing passenger volumes, so it’s imperative we work hard to complete our terminal expansion plans and deliver a better experience for our passengers.