Dublin Airport operator daa has awarded a £233M (€265M) contract to a joint venture between Sacyr Ireland and Wills Bros to deliver the West Apron Vehicle Underpass, a key infrastructure project designed to streamline airside operations and future-proof the airport’s capacity.

The 1.1km twin-cell tunnel will connect Pier 3 to the West Apron beneath Runway 16/34 and four taxiways, providing a dedicated underground route for airside service vehicles such as cargo trucks, fuel bowsers and catering units. Using cut-and-cover construction techniques, the project will be completed by August 2030 and will form the first work order under daa’s five-year Airfield and Landside Civil Works framework.

The project follows operational changes introduced after the opening of Dublin Airport’s North Runway in 2022, which restricted vehicle crossings over Runway 16/34. Without the underpass, apron vehicles face longer, less efficient routes that risk delaying time-critical operations. The tunnel’s dual-lane design will ensure continued access even during maintenance or incidents, supporting resilience and uninterrupted ground operations.

The contract also covers the reconfiguration of 23,700m² of surrounding infrastructure, with a comprehensive traffic management plan in place to minimise disruption during construction. Sacyr and Wills Bros previously collaborated on major projects, including the A6 Dungiven to Drumahoe highway in Northern Ireland, demonstrating strong experience in large-scale civil works.

daa CEO Kenny Jacobs described the underpass as a critical investment to “keep people safe and keep the airport moving,” while chief commercial and development officer Vincent Harrison said it will “enhance operational efficiency and ensure a seamless experience for passengers and partners.”

As Dublin Airport targets capacity for 40 million passengers annually, this project will play a central role in its long-term expansion strategy.

Discover how the underpass will transform airfield logistics and operational efficiency in the full article.