Dublin Airport awards €265M contract

daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, has awarded a €265 million contract to construct a new West Apron Vehicle Underpass to a joint venture between Sacyr Ireland Ltd and Wills Bros Ltd.

The contract will see the construction of a 1.1-kilometre twin-cell tunnel connecting Pier 3 to the West Apron. Scheduled for completion by August 2030, the underpass will pass beneath the Cross Runway (16/34) and four taxiways, providing a dedicated route for airside vehicles including cargo operators, fuel bowsers, tugs, and catering trucks.

The project has become critical following the opening of Dublin Airport’s North Runway in August 2022. The Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed that apron vehicles can no longer cross Runway 16/34, which now functions as a primary taxiway, forcing vehicles onto inefficient routes that impact time-critical operations.

“This underpass is about keeping people safe and keeping the airport moving,” said Kenny Jacobs, daa’s CEO. “It’s a critical piece of infrastructure that’ll make a big difference – cutting travel times, boosting efficiency, and future-proofing the place as we grow.”

The twin-cell design ensures operational resilience, allowing one lane to remain operational during maintenance or incidents. The project also includes reconfiguration of 23,700 square metres of airport space.

The Sacyr-Wills joint venture previously delivered the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe highway in Northern Ireland. Construction will utilise cut-and-cover techniques, with a traffic management plan to minimise disruption to airport operations.

The infrastructure investment supports Dublin Airport’s projected growth to 40 million passengers per annum and continued expansion of cargo operations on the West Apron.