Denver International Airport wins key contract vote, unleashing $1.3 billion in new spending on terminal project

Denver International Airport officials won metropolis leaders’ grudging blessing Monday nighttime to spell large — successful presumption of some wealth and other operation clip — to complete the monolithic terminal renovation it started much than 3 years ago.

The other $1.3 cardinal successful task spending, connected apical of $770 cardinal already approved and underway, means travelers passing nether DIA’s signature tented extortion volition spot operation proceed done 2027 oregon mid-2028.

The caller spending volition balloon the full Great Hall project outgo to arsenic overmuch arsenic $2.1 billion, the latest twist successful a rollercoaster thrust that included aboriginal contention implicit outgo overruns and delays, DIA’s early termination of the archetypal contractors and past a caller restart 2 years ago, with respective cardinal components scaled back.

Before the Denver City Council voted 10-3 to grow the newer team’s contracts, Councilman Kevin Flynn compared the existent authorities of the task to a half-done location room renovation.

“The nonaccomplishment of the (earlier concern deal) near it a mess,” Flynn said. “A ‘no’ ballot connected this declaration is simply a ballot to support it a mess, and I judge we can’t bash that. I regret that we person to undertake it successful the mode we person … (but) it simply has to beryllium completed.”

The assembly approved $1.1 cardinal successful contract additions for 4 firms, including up to $900 cardinal much for premier contractor Hensel Phelps Construction, with nonstop amounts to beryllium pinned down successful task orders. DIA expects different $200 cardinal successful caller non-contract costs.

Councilman Paul Kashmann was among 3 members who dissented pointedly, arguing: “This is simply a $1 billion-plus woody that I think, successful presumption of the messiness that preceded it, deserves an in-depth look by a afloat nonsubjective 3rd party.”

The different “no” votes came from Councilwomen Candi CdeBaca and Amanda Sawyer, who cited different factors.

The project, 1 of respective underway astatine DIA, aims to update the astir three-decade-old terminal building, code information vulnerabilities successful the checkpoints and summation passenger-processing capacity. DIA pays for its projects by tapping its ain gross streams arsenic good arsenic national backing — which officials accidental could supply a sizable assist for the Great Hall work.

But arsenic the task stood, lone 1 of the 2 main information checkpoints connected Level 5 would person been relocated to an expanded abstraction upstairs, providing much capacity. And lone DIA’s 3 largest carriers would person gotten wholly reconfigured check-in areas, which besides marque usage of level plates extended farther into the atrium.

Denver International Airport presentation

A conception diagram by Denver International Airport shows however Level 6, the precocious level of the terminal, would look upon completion of an expanded Great Hall Project. The northbound end, depicted connected the right, would person relocated information screening lanes, portion the halfway and the southbound end, astatine left, would person reconfigured hose check-in spaces. Both necessitate extensions of the level plates farther into the atrium nether the airport’s tented roof.

Last month, caller airdrome CEO Phil Washington pressed his case to reconstruct overmuch of what was cut, on with adding immoderate caller components. He argued the afloat renovation was needed sooner oregon aboriginal to accommodate DIA’s accelerated growth, which is present surging again.

Other changes passengers volition announcement successful coming years see refurbished baggage claims, added and renovated restrooms, changes to curbside setups extracurricular and, connected Level 5, replacement of the existent security-screening spaces with nationalist plazas and meeting/greeting areas for arriving passengers.

To passengers wary of construction, DIA officials person offered an assurance that aboriginal enactment won’t bring the aforesaid level of large detours and disruption, since astir changes to the cardinal portions of the gathering are present complete. They expect astir remaining operation to beryllium much retired of the way.