DAA signs seven T2 contracts

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has signed seven major contracts to allow construction work to start immediately on T2, the new passenger terminal at Dublin Airport.

The seven contracts, which have a combined value of about €180m, were awarded following a major international tender process. The contracts cover areas such as concrete, steelwork, cladding and logistics. The DAA now plans to begin construction of T2 immediately.

The T2 project is a key element of the DAA's €2 billon Transforming Dublin Airport programme, which will improve, expand and modernise the passenger facilities at Dublin Airport.

"We were pleased with the level and quality of interest in this hugely important project and we are very happy that we have got the right skills at the best price" - said DAA Chief Executive Declan Collier. "We look forward to working in partnership with each of these seven contractors to deliver some of the key elements of T2" - he added.

The seven firms that signed T2 construction contracts are -

* Alandale Logistics - Logistics & General Builders
* Fitzpatrick - Apron Works
* Laing O'Rourke - Sub structure and superstructure concrete
* McAvoy Group - Accommodation
* Martifer/Mota-Engil/Coffey - Cladding
* SIAC - Enabling Works & Services
* Watson Steel Structures - Steelworks.

The seven contracts represent the first tranche of 17 separate construction packages that comprise the overall T2 project. The project - which includes a 75,000 sq m terminal building, a 24,000 sq m departures pier and a wide range of other airport campus upgrades - has been broken into 17 elements, each of which was tendered separately.

Declan Collier said that this multi-package approach would allow T2 to be delivered on time and on budget. "We - and our construction partners - are focused on delivering T2 within a tight timeframe and this process allows us to move at the required speed to have the project completed on target and T2 operational in April 2010."

The new terminal will cost €395 million, while the overall T2 project has a price tag of €609 million. A consortium comprising Arup, Pascall+Watson Architects and Mace is responsible for the design and the project management of T2.