Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced today (March 3) that it has awarded a S$323m (US$237m) contract to Takenaka Corporation for works related to the expansion of Terminal 1 (T1) at Changi Airport in Singapore.
Takenaka is an established contractor with a strong track record in the development of airports in Japan, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The company was involved in several of Changi Airport’s development projects, including the ongoing construction of Terminal 4 (T4), as well as the previous upgrades to T1 in 2012 and Terminal 2 (T2) in 2006.
Takenaka’s contract includes renovating the T1 Departure Check-in Hall, which involves the replacement of the existing check-in counters and the installation of two new check-in rows to increase the passenger handling capacity. A cluster of five retail and dining outlets located at the T1 Departure Hall will discontinue operations in the second quarter of 2015 to allow for the construction of the check-in rows. Passengers at T1 will continue to be served by other retail and dining outlets in the area.
The T1 expansion works include upgrading the T1 baggage handling system from a semi-automated to fully automated system, as in the other terminals. The new baggage handling system will have automatic sortation capabilities, to better support the implementation of self check-in and self bag-drop functions at T1, as well as early check-in facilities at Jewel Changi Airport. Two additional arrival baggage claim carousels will also be installed, further increasing the terminal’s
baggage claim capacity.
To support the enhancement of the baggage handling system, certain areas within the apron areas of T1 and the Arrival Immigration Hall will be reconfigured to make space for the new system and its supporting infrastructure. Takenaka will undertake the infrastructural works related to the development of the baggage handling area and Vanderlande will be responsible for upgrading the baggage handling system.
Fong Kok Wai, executive vice president, engineering and development, for CAG, said, “The expansion works for T1 will take place amid ongoing airport operations, making this project a challenging one. Takenaka Corporation has extensive experience in airport infrastructure projects, having undertaken previous upgrading projects for T1 and T2, as well as the current development of T4.
“We will work closely with Takenaka to manage the phasing of the works at T1, to minimize the impact to the passenger experience, as well as to ensure seamless integration with the on-going development of Jewel Changi Airport. Together, we aim to deliver at the end of this journey, a much-needed increase in the capacity of our oldest terminal that will allow us to serve our passengers better.”
Shiro Osada, senior executive managing officer of international operation and general manager of Takenaka, said, “This marks a new milestone for Takenaka, as we embark on a journey with CAG that gives us the opportunity to contribute to another page of Changi Airport’s development history. The expansion of T1 is a very special project. I was a project member of the original T1 construction some 35 years ago. This terminal brings back lots of fond memories. More than three decades on, we are committed to delivering excellence and high quality for this project that will bring T1 to the next level.”
The construction work will begin in March 2015, and is scheduled for completion in 2019. The work will take place alongside other redevelopment works at T1, including the expansion of the floor plate of the T1 Arrival and Baggage Claim Halls, and the construction of new ground transport facilities and pedestrian link bridges.
