Construction milestone reached at Montreal-Dorval Airport

Aeroports de Montreal has officially opened a new transborder jetty at Montreal-Dorval airport, marking the first phase of a huge $716 million expansion of the airport. The new jetty includes 17 boarding gates to serve U.S. travellers. In June, the airport will also open an expansion to the central terminal core, providing another 36 check-in counters for international traffic.
The long list of consultants involved in the expansion include the following firms: Pageau Morel, Bouthillette Parizeau and Groupe HBA (electrical and mechanical engineers), Cima and SNC-Lavalin (structural engineers), Dessau Soprin (civil engineers) and Arup Napa (planning). The DVPT Consortium in charge of management and administration of the project includes Tecsult. Architects are Provencher Roy, Cardinal Hardy, Jodoin Lamarre Pratte and Arcop PCJA.
In the 1990s international traffic was transformed from its original Montreal destination at Mirabel airport to Dorval, after it was decided Dorval’s popularity and proximity to Montreal made it a more viable passenger terminal. Aeroports de Montreal then inaugurated expansion plans for Dorval, which are scheduled to be completed by 2009.
As with other expanding airports, the construction plans were made in close consultation with Air Canada, which is now in deep financial difficulties. At the opening of the new transborder jetty in April, Aeroports de Montreal Chairman Pierre Martin said: “The overall plan for the new Montreal-Dorval was the subject of very close consultations with our carrier partners, and in particular with Air Canada, which represent some 60% of our traffic. We are well aware of the very demanding market constraints within which the carriers are providing their services, and we want airport facilities that have the lowest possible operating costs.”
The new transborder jetty is a modern steel and glass structure, measuring 420 metres long and 28 metres wide. The terminal core has a new baggage room, and an additional retail area. Phase II of the program will add a new arrivals centre and new international jetty for wide-bodied aircraft.
www.admtl.com