A key milestone in the construction of Bristol Airport’s west terminal extension has been marked with a ‘topping out’ ceremony.
The celebration – a longstanding tradition in the construction industry – followed the completion of the steel work for the £24m structure.
Guests from the design team, including architects, structural engineers, mechanical and electrical systems engineers, and main contractor Balfour Beatty, joined Bristol Airport’s chief executive Robert Sinclair and his senior management team to view the extension’s highest point.
The west terminal extension is Bristol Airport’s single biggest investment project since the terminal building opened in nearly 16 years ago.
Once completed later this year it will transform the security search process for passengers, as well as creating an enlarged baggage reclaim area, customs facilities, arrivals retail, and meet and greet area.
The new security search facility will house 10 customer channels, a dedicated fast-track zone, an enlarged area in which customers can prepare for search in a more comfortable and relaxed environment, and significantly longer 21 metre security lanes.
The combination of design, space and new technology is expected to deliver an industry-leading passenger experience.
The 97,000 sq ft (9,000 sq m) facility will be opened in three phases following a 14-month construction build, involving more than 200 people working on site.
Phase one will open this summer, closely followed by phase two and three, with the entire project completed before the end of 2016.
Robert Sinclair said: “Feedback on the east terminal extension – which enhanced and extended the departure lounge when it opened last summer – has been very positive.
"On completion, the west terminal extension will address other key stages of the airport journey – security search – as well as enhancing the baggage reclaim and ‘meeters and greeters’ space.
“By the end of next year, we will have transformed the passenger experience, providing another powerful reason for people across the South West and Wales to choose to fly from Bristol.”
Balfour Beatty South West and Wales managing director Martyn Osborne said: “Balfour Beatty is dedicated to delivering first-class projects and we are delighted to be working with Bristol Airport on the west terminal extension.
“This topping out ceremony marks a significant milestone in the development and provides an opportunity to showcase the progress of the terminal as well as recognise the hard work and collaboration of all of the teams involved.”
During preparation of the site for the west terminal extension over 15,000 tonnes of material was excavated, with the majority of this material recycled for use on the South Bristol Link.
Pictured from left: Airport CEO Robert Sinclair with Martyn Osborne of Balfour Beatty
