Nashville International Airport Development thread

[Bos2Nash]

12 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

I see what you mean. If it's going in that direction, then it will be underground. 

Not necessarily. With the new terminal garage being set up for a APM on top of the garage, I don't see the grades working out to go from the top down to below grade. I am typically not a fan of elevated transit, but I would think an elevated APM could work very well at the airport and provide easy visibility for visiting guests. LAX's APM is completely above grade and they have seemingly done a good job connecting the terminals there. We will know more once it comes online. Atlanta's airport has a solid underground line so it is definitely feasible.

Who knows what things will cost in 10 years (probably not cheaper unfortunately), so it is possible. I just wouldn't have that as my expectation. 

To me concept 1 is just too cramped for a new terminal to be effective and expandable. Concept 2 makes the most sense of the two, but the logistics of relocating all of those entities seems like an absolute nightmare and would cost so much.

15 hours ago, bnacincy said:

They ought to put a 2nd terminal where the old terminal was up until 1987 and have Embraer and FEDEX relocate towards the cargo terminal on that side.

That would prevent traffic overcrowding at the existing terminal and you would have plenty of space for expansion on the Briley Parkway side.

 This is the most solid option to me as well. I don't think FedEx/Amazon could fit their volume into the Cargo terminal per say, but I think a new terminal could be built for them in the red outlined area below. Build that, then build the new terminal in the blue outlined area. All of this land is already owned by BNA. Also having this along Briley Parkway makes for pretty easy in and out to I-40 and I-24. 

Then (in the next 20 year cycle), BNA could work on acquiring these parcels for future terminal expansion

Ultimately, I think the airport could then be re-configured. The yellow outline could turn into an international hub and the blue outline could be a domestic hub. The red outline would be primarily FedEx/Amazon, but if we got to this size the traditional air cargo facility would presumably have to be relocated and enlarged.

[glamdring269]

1 hour ago, go_outside said:

This quote from the NBJ article sums up Nashville's incredible passenger growth:

"When the airport began its expansion in 2017, officials expected to hit 23.8 million passengers 20 years later. Now they expect to reach that point this fiscal year."

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by glamdring269

[PruneTracy]

21 hours ago, markhollin said:

The airport is hiring a consultant to recommend the best place to build a second terminal. The contract, worth a maximum $3.5 million, begins what Nashville International Airport CEO Doug Kreulen expects to be a decadelong process to plan, build and open a terminal.

Kreulen previously expected to hit 35 million annual passengers in 2035. Last fiscal year's 18.9% growth lopped two years off that timeline, putting the airport on pace for 2033 to reach that benchmark.

The authority is hiring Strategic Planning Services Inc., which has five U.S. offices as well as offices in China and Hong Kong.

At least two options for a new terminal involve land that the authority entirely or mostly owns today. Any option will require some kind of transit or people-mover network linking the two buildings, Kreulen said.

The team Strategic Planning Services put together includes several architecture and engineering firms with a Nashville presence, including Gresham Smith, Kimley Horn, Terracon and Civil Infrastructure Associates LLC.

A new terminal would cost well into the billions of dollars. 

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2023/08/17/bna-nashville-airport-terminal-study.html

I'll tell them it's Concept 2 for $35,000. Make the check out to Prune J. Tracy, Esq. Consulting, please. Do they really think they can support a terminal's worth of taxiing traffic on the crossing over Donelson Pike? Then across or down 2R/20L?

20 hours ago, bnacincy said:

They ought to put a 2nd terminal where the old terminal was up until 1987 and have Embraer and FEDEX relocate towards the cargo terminal on that side.

That would prevent traffic overcrowding at the existing terminal and you would have plenty of space for expansion on the Briley Parkway side.

This would actually work pretty well if they could tunnel the APM under the airfield. Ditch the measly international gates and eliminate the at-grade intersections on Briley and you have room for another 20 million passengers in an airside layout not much less efficient than ATL. Only problem is that the second terminal traffic has to cross the whole airfield to get to the eastern runways.

Edited August 18, 2023 by PruneTracy

[Sean blackdog]

Maybe……..

[Digital Dust]

Ah, thank you Sean! That is exactly what I was hoping for.

Didn't realize they had plans for another I40 interchange, or at least that's what it looks like.

[MLBrumby]

1 hour ago, Sean blackdog said:

Maybe……..

Would the elimination of the cross-runway effectively eliminate the FAA restrictions against supertalls downtown?  And that would still leave 4 runways; would that be enough for a 75m passenger airport? 

[donNdonelson2]

56 minutes ago, Digital Dust said:

Ah, thank you Sean! That is exactly what I was hoping for.

Didn't realize they had plans for another I40 interchange, or at least that's what it looks like.

The relocation/extension of Harding place to Elm Hill Pike and a new I-40 interchange has been part of a long term plan for several years now.

[donNdonelson2]

1 hour ago, Digital Dust said:

Ah, thank you Sean! That is exactly what I was hoping for.

Didn't realize they had plans for another I40 interchange, or at least that's what it looks like.

The relocation/extension of Harding place to Elm Hill Pike and a new I-40 interchange has been part of a long term plan for several years now.

[Pdt2f]

48 minutes ago, MLBrumby said:

Would the elimination of the cross-runway effectively eliminate the FAA restrictions against supertalls downtown?  And that would still leave 4 runways; would that be enough for a 75m passenger airport? 

A concern is to whether removing the cross-runway would risk more weather related delays in the event where a cross-runway would allow them to proceed with operations. I don’t really know for sure, I’m just sure there has to be some benefit to having runways go different directions. 

[Binbin98]

9 hours ago, Bos2Nash said:

Not necessarily. With the new terminal garage being set up for a APM on top of the garage, I don't see the grades working out to go from the top down to below grade. I am typically not a fan of elevated transit, but I would think an elevated APM could work very well at the airport and provide easy visibility for visiting guests. LAX's APM is completely above grade and they have seemingly done a good job connecting the terminals there. We will know more once it comes online. Atlanta's airport has a solid underground line so it is definitely feasible.

Who knows what things will cost in 10 years (probably not cheaper unfortunately), so it is possible. I just wouldn't have that as my expectation. 

To me concept 1 is just too cramped for a new terminal to be effective and expandable. Concept 2 makes the most sense of the two, but the logistics of relocating all of those entities seems like an absolute nightmare and would cost so much.

 This is the most solid option to me as well. I don't think FedEx/Amazon could fit their volume into the Cargo terminal per say, but I think a new terminal could be built for them in the red outlined area below. Build that, then build the new terminal in the blue outlined area. All of this land is already owned by BNA. Also having this along Briley Parkway makes for pretty easy in and out to I-40 and I-24. 

Then (in the next 20 year cycle), BNA could work on acquiring these parcels for future terminal expansion

Ultimately, I think the airport could then be re-configured. The yellow outline could turn into an international hub and the blue outline could be a domestic hub. The red outline would be primarily FedEx/Amazon, but if we got to this size the traditional air cargo facility would presumably have to be relocated and enlarged.

I always have felt like United would have a good southeastern hub in Nashville. Yes Houston is somewhat close by but maybe Nashville could act as a reliever to it. I recently went through Denver and that was a very large and growing United hub and I could see Nashville ending up in a similar way down the road.

[Digital Dust]

13 hours ago, donNdonelson2 said:

The relocation/extension of Harding place to Elm Hill Pike and a new I-40 interchange has been part of a long term plan for several years now.

Thanks for the more detailed plans, but I had no idea. It's hard to keep up with everything, plus I wasn't living in the state back then

[Nothingspectacular]

13 hours ago, Binbin98 said:

I always have felt like United would have a good southeastern hub in Nashville. Yes Houston is somewhat close by but maybe Nashville could act as a reliever to it. I recently went through Denver and that was a very large and growing United hub and I could see Nashville ending up in a similar way down the road.

Incorrect. No way BNA will never ever come close to the enormous hub United has in Denver.  United has done fine without a southeastern US hub and has no plans to establish one. With Washington Dulles, Chicago OHare, and Houston surrounding the region there is absolutely no need for one.  BNA could not physically support it as it is already pretty much at capacity even with the new IAB and the concourse additions and renovations.  

[markhollin]

Airpot Hilton (14 stories, 292 rooms, internal garage) update: exterior nearly complete.

[Luvemtall]

2 hours ago, Nothingspectacular said:

Incorrect. No way BNA will never ever come close to the enormous hub United has in Denver.  United has done fine without a southeastern US hub and has no plans to establish one. With Washington Dulles, Chicago OHare, and Houston surrounding the region there is absolutely no need for one.  BNA could not physically support it as it is already pretty much at capacity even with the new IAB and the concourse additions and renovations.  

Don’t ever say never , things can change 

[Sean blackdog]

Today this morning from Instagram BNATower. 
 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Sean blackdog

[MLBrumby]

Is that fresh dirt at the left-middle of the photo? A sign they're starting on the extension of Concourse A? Can anyone here confirm they'll have gates on the side toward I-40.

[downtownresident]

3 hours ago, MLBrumby said:

Is that fresh dirt at the left-middle of the photo? A sign they're starting on the extension of Concourse A? Can anyone here confirm they'll have gates on the side toward I-40.

It’s the fill project needed for the Concourse A rebuild. If I’m remembering correctly, the new Concourse A will be double loaded, so it will have gates on both sides. 

[Sean blackdog]

2 hours ago, downtownresident said:

It’s the fill project needed for the Concourse A rebuild. If I’m remembering correctly, the new Concourse A will be double loaded, so it will have gates on both sides. 

Like that??

On 8/18/2023 at 4:55 PM, Digital Dust said:

Ah, thank you Sean! That is exactly what I was hoping for.

Didn't realize they had plans for another I40 interchange, or at least that's what it looks like.

Or…..  

[go_outside]

NewsChannel5 posted a Reel showing off construction progress on the central marketplace area. From rebeccaschleicher_nc5: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwNSDNLIKt6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

Screenshot:

[glamdring269]

12 hours ago, go_outside said:

NewsChannel5 posted a Reel showing off construction progress on the central marketplace area. From rebeccaschleicher_nc5: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwNSDNLIKt6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

So listening to that it sounds like an announcement for Paris and Frankfort could come as early as next year. What do we think is the earliest we might actually be able to fly those routes? Next year? 2025? Selfishly hoping for next year as we're planning a Paris/Normandy trip right now for Sep 2024.

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening from NewsChannel5.

 

Here we go. Wait a min……    3 British Airways?

Edited August 22, 2023 by Sean blackdog

[go_outside]

Metro Council Members Russ Bradford (D13, Donelson) and Mary Carolyn Roberts (D20, the Nations, Cockrill Bend) have joined Metro's lawsuit against the State's airport takeover.

In addition to changing the makeup of the airport board, the controversial state law significantly expanded the airport's eminent domain powers. This provision flew relatively under the radar until BNA announced preliminary planning for a second terminal last week. From the Tennessee Lookout:

"[A]dded to the new state law was a provision granting the authority sweeping eminent domain and zoning powers to buy property around its facility, which no other airport in Tennessee can do.

Previously, the airport had to go through Metro Nashville Council to activate the eminent domain process. Now, the airport board can bypass input from Nashville’s local representatives giving it government-like authority to seize land deemed necessary for its expansion."

Nashvillians in Bradford and Roberts' districts, who live near BNA and John C. Tune respectively, are understandably concerned about this broad new eminent domain power. And, with the State rather than Metro now controlling the airports, there will be less incentive to mitigate airport expansion impacts to Nashvillians.

Edited August 22, 2023 by go_outside

[PillowTalk4]

On 8/18/2023 at 6:23 PM, MLBrumby said:

Would the elimination of the cross-runway effectively eliminate the FAA restrictions against supertalls downtown?  And that would still leave 4 runways; would that be enough for a 75m passenger airport? 

I was wondering the same thing.

[markhollin]

Airport retail development and management company Fraport Tennessee has announced eight leasing opportunities at Nashville International Airport related to the planned expansion of Concourse D.

According to a release, Fraport opened the request for proposals process for the retail, food, drink and service sites on Aug. 15. Proposals are due by Sept. 12.

The design work for the extension has begun and will include five new gates, eight concessions locations and an open-air veranda. Of the eight concessions options, three will be food and drink spots, three will be retail/service and two will be hybrid. Construction on those spots will be ready to begin in February 2025.

More behind the Nashville Post paywall here:

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/people/of-note-30-august-2023/article_3200cbc6-46aa-11ee-a720-87a5a9bc0785.html

[markhollin]

Kitty Hawk Eat + Drink, Voodoo Doughnut, and The Titans Press Box (upscale full-service restaurant and bar) are set to open Sept. 27 in the new International Arrivals Facility.

More at NBJ here:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2023/08/30/strategic-hospitality-brings-three-dining-concepts.html