March 13, 2008

Growing pains

Airport construction means a bigger, better airport

By Kymberli Brady

With a track record of serving 10.7 million passengers last year, Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is now in the throws of a major overhaul to better accommodate 13 commercial carriers and 166 flights a day.

Crews work on construction of the North Concourse, where passenger gates will soon be moving people onto planes. Photos by Kymberli Brady

On Feb. 5, demolition crews began tearing down the north-end section of the 43-year-old Terminal C to make way for new Terminal B construction.

The work is part of the airport's comprehensive $1.3 billion program to replace and renovate all terminal facilities, roadways and parking over a two-and-a-half year time frame. It looks to be a good investment in a facility that generates 70,000 jobs in the San Jose area, along with $4 billion a year in direct business spending in the local community and $136.6 million a year in direct business revenue, as well as local, state and federal taxes.

According to airport spokesman David Vossbrink, once Terminal B becomes operational mid-2010, it will connect to the south end of the new North Concourse project and will house ticketing, baggage claim and inline screening systems, as well as security functions for the North and future South Concourse terminals. The remaining Terminal C structure will then be removed to allow for straightening and widening of surrounding roadways, making access and maneuverability much more amenable.

Customers will also be able to use a convenient cut-through for easier access. Remaining open land will be earmarked for future airport expansion to the south. A larger rental car and public parking garage will replace what once was short-term parking for Terminal C. The new structure will be located directly across from the new Terminal B and will include 350 short-term spaces, along with an additional 3,000 spaces reserved for rental car operations and customer service counters.

An estimated 200 tons of steel went into the construction of the new 1,600-foot-long North Concourse. With the equivalent of a 160-story tower lying on its side, this “horizontal high rise” will be the first completed phase of the project and is scheduled to open within months. It will feature nine gates, along with a plethora of retail and dining venues, surrounded by plenty of open space, natural lighting and airy walkways designed to complement San Jose's mild climate.

Demolition crews tear down Terminal C to make way for airport expansion at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Terminal A, which opened in 1990, will undergo an extensive remodel designed to improve passenger processing and circulation. Up to 12 new security checkpoint lanes will reside on the second floor, with all ticket counters located on the ground floor. New inline baggage screening systems, expanded retail and concession areas, passenger lounges and airfield views look to streamline and enhance the airport experience.

One of the most complicated aspects of this project will never be seen by the general public. For nearly two years, 64 G-watering wells pumped 28,000 gallons per minute of water out of the project into the Guadalupe River to create the UROW (utility right of way). The result is an underground baggage processing area below the terminal that will ensure better handling between gates and planes.

According to Dave Mass, deputy director for Airport Planning and Development, most of the work will happen at night in an effort to minimize disruption to airport operations and passengers.

“One of our top priorities during such a large and complex project is to make sure that passengers can continue to count on the great convenience and service of our airport,” he says.

Reprinted with permission from the March 2008 issue of the Chamber Advocate, © 2008, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce