Construction of Split's new terminal advances

The construction of Split Airport's new multi million euro terminal is progressing on schedule, with the facility expected to be opened to the public in July 2019. It comes following several years of delays. The foundations for the new building, which will stretch over 35.000 square metres, have been laid. It is situated between the existing terminal on the east side and the existing apron on the west side. The east part of the structure will be a compact glazed cube, with a flat and partly glazed roof. It will have a basement, ground floor, first floor, and a gallery, with the roof cornice height extending to 14.8 metres above the ground floor. The facility will have the capacity to handle 3.5 million passengers per year and will separate arriving and departing passengers. Furthermore, once completed, the airport will boast a new baggage sorting facility, as well as a car park and bus terminal which will have the capacity to accommodate 900 vehicles over an area of 35.500 square metres. It will be linked to the passenger terminal via a pedestrian overbridge (closed with movable steps) over the state road. The project will also include the overhaul of the existing terminal. A consortium of Croatian companies have been contracted to carry out the work, including Kamgrad and Viadukt, which were involved in the construction of Zagreb Airport's new terminal that opened earlier this year.

Inside view of the new passenger terminal building, ground floor

The basic bearing structure of the new building will be formed of reinforced concrete up to the roof level. The roof structure itself will be made of steel and, to a lesser extent, of timber. No jetways are planned as part of the project. Instead, the six gates will have staircases which will lead to the apron. "The structure of the new passenger terminal is, for the most part, innovative and complex. It comprises of various structural types, materials and zones. The structural design was prepared in compliance with applicable regulations, standards and professional rules of practice, and in full conformity with modern technical standards. It is expected that the realisation of this project will constitute a valuable contribution to the development of the building profession", the project's architects said.

Inside view of the new passenger terminal building, first floor

Split Airport's new terminal is valued at 59.4 million euros. The state will exempt the airport from paying tax on profit, which will fund part of the investment (17.1 million euros) through its accumulated profits. The rest will be paid through a loan from the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which will not require state guarantees. Split Airport was Croatia's most profitable in 2016. registering a net profit of 11.4 million euros. "This project is of vital importance to Split Airport. The double digit passenger growth we have recorded over the past five years has produced great challenges in the use of existing infrastructure, particularly during peak times. This is Split Airport's biggest investment over the past twenty years", it said in a statement.

New passenger terminal building with pedestrian overbridge

Split Airport, which is Croatia's second busiest behind Zagreb and third busiest in the former Yugoslavia, handled 468.878 passengers during the first five months of the year, representing an increase of 32% on 2016. In June alone the airport is expected to welcome over 400.000 travellers through its doors. Management estimates the airport will register 2.5 million passengers by year's end. Split's existing airport was opened in November 1966, while the current passenger terminal was built in 1979 for the Mediterranean Games. It has the capacity to handle one million passengers per year. The terminal was overhauled and slightly expanded in 2005.

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Comments

Anonymous said…

Congratulations Split. Looks fantastic.