Nashville International Airport Development thread

[nashvylle]

4 hours ago, Nathan_in_the_UK said:

I just can't stop thinking about how much of an impact a direct light rail link with downtown would have. Maybe new hotels wouldn't have a need to accommodate so much parking if people didn't have to feel like they either need to pay exorbitant taxi fares, deal with a (perceived-to-be) unreliable and infrequent bus, or rent a car!

Yes lightrail connecting BNA to downtown would be geared towards tourists and not residents, but it would clear up a lot of traffic for residents... 

[BnaBreaker]

30 minutes ago, nashvylle said:

Yes lightrail connecting BNA to downtown would be geared towards tourists and not residents, but it would clear up a lot of traffic for residents... 

If it was just a single line into downtown then yeah, it probably would be primarily used by tourists.  But if that line eventually connected to a larger network that spread throughout the city, then it would probably fairly extensively by residents as well.

[nashvylle]

2 hours ago, BnaBreaker said:

If it was just a single line into downtown then yeah, it probably would be primarily used by tourists.  But if that line eventually connected to a larger network that spread throughout the city, then it would probably fairly extensively by residents as well.

I was more talking about just the "first leg", but yes agree with your point. 

[smeagolsfree]

Just remember if the resolution that is up for a vote limiting tax increases and capital spending is passed, Nashville will never get mass transit of anykind. 

[japan]

3 hours ago, smeagolsfree said:

Just remember if the resolution that is up for a vote limiting tax increases and capital spending is passed, Nashville will never get mass transit of anykind. 

Blame Cooper if this happens as it's his ridiculous headline making 36% increase that caused all of this.

[LA_TN]

Things are getting serious at the airport now!

Picture courtesy of BNA

This shows work on the new terminal lobby has begun

UPDATE:

The yellow crane in the photos will build a MUCH bigger crane: a Demag 8800, one of the cranes that will be used to construct the new roof canopy you've seen in our #BNAVision renderings. The Demag 8800 has a lift capacity of 1,400 tons!

[MLBrumby]

I know very little about airport traffic management, but I've always been curious as to why the former sinkhole/drainage pond (now filled in) was not done sooner. Did it actually help to have the planes being forced closer to the buildings?  Or maybe just not feasible (IDKW) before all the earth was moved in this expansion? Which brings me to the question I have now. Why hasn't that whole area been paved over?  Or will it be after the expansion is completed? And it appears to be asphalt, whereas concrete is typically used in order to support the weight of the planes. I can see it now looks like a lay out area with direct access to the international gates construction zone. 

[dxfret]

I agree that the sinkhole/drainage area should have been fill-in years ago. I recall reading that the now filled-in area has to allow some time to pass for the earth to settle.  Concrete should be then added. In the meantime it helps to have a staging area for the central terminal construction now underway. 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from Facebook BNA. 

[Armacing]

On 9/3/2020 at 4:02 PM, smeagolsfree said:

Just remember if the resolution that is up for a vote limiting tax increases and capital spending is passed, Nashville will never get mass transit of anykind. 

Unless it is privately funded...  Remember that the Nashville Streetcar era had like 7 different private companies offering streetcar service.

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening from Facebook BNA. 
 

The Baggage Claim is getting bigger! Our new south expansion opens in just a few days with two new baggage carousels, restrooms, a water bottle filling station, water fountains and a new vestibule for convenient curbside pick-up. 

It’s just one part of #BNAVision, the dynamic expansion and renovation plan for Nashville international Airport.  Learn more at BNAVision.com.

[LA_TN]

9 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

I know very little about airport traffic management, but I've always been curious as to why the former sinkhole/drainage pond (now filled in) was not done sooner. Did it actually help to have the planes being forced closer to the buildings?  Or maybe just not feasible (IDKW) before all the earth was moved in this expansion? Which brings me to the question I have now. Why hasn't that whole area been paved over?  Or will it be after the expansion is completed? And it appears to be asphalt, whereas concrete is typically used in order to support the weight of the planes. I can see it now looks like a lay out area with direct access to the international gates construction zone. 

 

9 hours ago, dxfret said:

I agree that the sinkhole/drainage area should have been fill-in years ago. I recall reading that the now filled-in area has to allow some time to pass for the earth to settle.  Concrete should be then added. In the meantime it helps to have a staging area for the central terminal construction now underway. 

There was never a need for that hole to be filled, until now. Thus, never spent the millions of $$

It will remain blacktop for a total of 3-5 years (I don't recall the #) to allow the ground to settle before planes can be allowed on the filled area. It is a FAA requirement. After that, it can and will be concrete. We will see the same thing when the A concourse fill project starts in January 

[nashvylle]

I wish the new baggage claim would designed to let arrivals know they were in Nashville. Currently that could be any city in America. 

[LA_TN]

13 minutes ago, nashvylle said:

I wish the new baggage claim would designed to let arrivals know they were in Nashville. Currently that could be any city in America. 

There will probably be additions later, like Martin Guitars, Jack Daniel's, etc, that will make it feel 'Nashville'. But, unfortunately, it still feels like you're picking up your luggage from the basement

[downtownresident]

5 minutes ago, LA_TN said:

There will probably be additions later, like Martin Guitars, Jack Daniel's, etc, that will make it feel 'Nashville'. But, unfortunately, it still feels like you're picking up your luggage from the basement

Yup. They definitely needed higher ceilings for baggage claim. 

[Armacing]

1 hour ago, LA_TN said:

There will probably be additions later, like Martin Guitars, Jack Daniel's, etc, that will make it feel 'Nashville'. But, unfortunately, it still feels like you're picking up your luggage from the basement

Forget the decorations - I would be happy if they just listed the correct carousel for your flight and didn't announce a carousel change over the intercom for 100% of the flights.  Like seriously, how hard is it to plan out the carousel assignments in advance and stick to them?

[Sean blackdog]

September 8th from BNA Doug Kreulen Twitter.

Underground fuel lines being installed for the future IAF at BNA. 

And Last week September 11th. Yes, we are building a tunnel at ⁦@Fly_Nashville Future International travelers arriving at BNA will clear customs and then walk through the tunnel to arrive at the ground transportation area. Investing, Planning and Preparing to serve Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Edited September 19, 2020 by Sean blackdog

[Sean blackdog]

Read this. 
https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/bna-vision-expansion-plan/

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening from Facebook BNA. 

Remember the cranes we showed you last week? And remember the distinctive roof canopy you’ve seen in #BNAVision renderings the last couple of years? Well, canopy construction gets underway in October. 

 HENSEL PHELPS shows how it will get built. From renderings to reality! Corgan Inc. Fentress Architects
 

 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from Facebook BNA. 
The south expansion of BNA’s Baggage Claim is open as of this morning! It features two new baggage carousels, the Southwest and American Air baggage service offices, restrooms, a water bottle filling station, water fountains and a new vestibule for easy access to curbside pick-up. #BiggerBetterBNA #BNAVision

Edited September 22, 2020 by Sean blackdog

[Bos2Nash]

On 9/22/2020 at 12:37 PM, Sean blackdog said:

While the low ceilings are not ideal. This is not a place that money really needed to be spent on.  Passengers come in, grab their luggage and leave. Bigger heights and more comfortable spaces have been reserved for the departure terminals as people linger in those spaces much more. I think the brightening of this has done a tremendous job making this space more comfortable to be in no matter how long people are there. Amazing how much the brigher colors and light has improved the space.

[markhollin]

A couple of shots of the old airport terminal from Sept. of 1980:

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening from Facebook BNA. 
 

Big things are on the way—literally! 

 The massive Demag CC 8800 crane we showed you a couple of weeks back begins arriving in pieces tomorrow and will be assembled on-site at BNA (complete in mid-October). This crane, which will be nearly as tall as the Bridgestone Tower in downtown Nashville, will be used to build BNA's distinctive new roof canopy.

The first pieces of steel for the roof canopy arrive on Tuesday. Two of the pieces arriving tomorrow weigh more than 39,000 pounds, and the third weighs more than 57,000 pounds! Construction of the canopy begins in three weeks. #BNAVision #BiggerBetterBNA

 

Big yellow mobile crane is up. 

 

4 white gates take down. 
B2, B2, C2 & C3. 

Edited September 27, 2020 by Sean blackdog

[Sean blackdog]

Update from BNA. 
Here is one of the pieces of steel, pictured on Friday, loaded up for shipping to BNA! They're coming from Texas and will begin arriving this week. Some 70 loads will arrive through the end of November. #BNAVision

[Sean blackdog]

Update 

August 2020.
Went down to 610,811 passengers. Cause of COVID-19.